The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-10 00:00:00

SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.

Scylla and Charybdis, or Scylla and Glaucis rather,
is a far more appalling story of jealousy. Scylla
properly belongs to the opposite coast of Naples ; but
as she and her fellow monster Charybdis are usually
named together, and the latter tenanted the Sicilian
coast, and the strait between them is very narrow, she
is not to be omitted in Sicilian fable. Charybdis
(quasi Chalybdis, Hiding ? though some derive it
from two words, signifying to " gape" and " absorb,")
was a female robber, who, having stolen the oxen of
Hercules, was condemned to be a whirlpool, and suck
ships into its gulf. But she was a horror not to be
compared with Scylla, though the latter was thought
less dangerous to pass. it has been thought by
some, that by the word Scylla is meant the bitch
of the sea-dog or seal—a creature often found
on this coast. Be this as it may (and the seal, having
a more human look than a dog, might suggest a more
frightful image, to say nothing of its being more ap-
propriate to the water), who was Scylla? and how
came she to be this tremendous monster ? From the
jealousy of Circe. Scylla was originally a beautiful
maiden, fond of the company of the sea-nymphs, and
Glaucus (sea-green), a god of the sea, was in love
with her. She did not like him ; and Glaucus applied
to Circe for help, from her skill in magic. Circe fell
in love with the lover, and, being enraged with the
attractions that made him refuse her, poisoned the
water in which Scylla bathed. The result was the
conversion of her lower limbs into a set of barking
dogs. They were part of her; and when in her
horror she thought to drive them back, she found
herself " hauling" them along with her—one creature,
says Ovid, hauling many :7,
" Quos fugit, attrahit una. —Metam, xiv., v. 63.
This is very dreadful ; yet Homer's creature is more
so. Her proceedings exactly resemble the accounts
which mariners have given of a huge sea-polypus
—a cousin of the kraken, or sea-serpent—who thrusts
her gigantic feelers over the deck of an unsuspecting
ship, and carries off a few seamen. There is a picture
of it in one of the editions of Buffon. But the dog-
like barking, and the terrific head and teeth, to which
the imagination involuntarily gives something of a
human aspect, leave the advantage of the horrible still
on the side of the poet.--Leigh Hunt in Ainsworth's
Magazine.

The counsel for the traversers on the State trials are
to hold a consultation, in Dublin, on Friday next, pre.
vious to the opening of Easter Term, on Monday..
"THE ROOKS HAVE LOST THEIR PLACES. '—The
rooks that formerly tenanted the trees on the parade in
the Tower, as well as the crowns at the. summit of 'the.
White Tower, built by William Rufus, and WI-act they
inhabited for many successive generations, have vacated
that locality for about eight years. Until that period
likewise there was a celebrated rookery in the large
tree in Wood-street abutting from Cheapside.

POPERY AND PUSEYISM.
(From the Tablet, a Catholic Journal.)
For Mr. Newman—in the absence of all personal
knowledge—we have ever entertained a most pro-
found and sincere respect ; mingled, too, with a feel-
ing of gratitude for causes to which we shall not
allude more distinctly. We have with all our hearts
rejoiced over every symptom he has exhibited of
nearer approach to the gates of the heavenly city ;
and we have sorrowed deeply over every instance of
his apparently unaccountable backwardness. We
need hardly add that both these feelings are immea-
surably increased by the perusal of the beautiful little
work before'us. But still the question recurs, why
does this man, seemingly and by repute so full of
piety, humility, and spiritual discernment, still hug to
his breast the ignominious fetters of that false prac-
tice and belief ?- We cannot say. Rumours, indeed,
have reached us—we hardly like to allude to
them—from which it would appear that lie is
overpowered by the delusion of visions from above,
confirming him in his present course. God knows if
this be true; but, if it be, it is, indeed, most lament-
able. Other rumours attribute his holding his position
to a mere feeling of policy; a policy of which it is
reported—but we do not believe the rumour—that
even some Catholics approve. He thinks, forsooth,
that he can do more servic? to God by remaining as he
is, and thus holding out his hand to the weaker Angli-
cans to help them on their way. That any Catholic
in his senses can approve of such a policy we do not
believe, inasmuch as to approve it would be to approve
the most awful sins, fur the sake of some rotten
calculations of prospective benefit. Of course, heresy
and schism are sins, let those who are without say
what they will ; and it is, of course, impossible that
any Catholic can seriously approve a continuance in
them for an instant of time, even to secure the
brightest and most brilliant results. Nay, we do not
understand how any one, even on the borders of con-
version, can for any length of time nourish so insane
a thought. Either the Church of Rome is the true
Church, is a Church which the waverer intends to
enter, or it is not. If it is not, any such policy as
that we have alluded to can have no place. In this
event Mr. Newman cannot have the notion of re-
maining for a time longer in the Anglican Esta-
blishment, in order, when he leaves it for Rome, to
draw a mighty train after him. On the other hand,
if the Church of Rome be the true Church, which he
intends to enter, he can only enter it by condemning
his present course ; by repenting of his present
" policy," as a sin ; by acknowledging that to remain
out of communion with Rome willingly for a moment,
and upon any pretext, is, pro tanto, a rejection of the
grace of God, a renunciation of the hopes of salvation.
Surely, even such a waverer must understand that his
first duty is to his own soul ; and that nothing, however
specious, can excuse him for neglecting or postponing,
even for the twinkling of an eye, that great primary
obligation. It is not for him to save sinners, but to
save.himself. The first he cannot do ; he can only
plant and water, while God giveth the increase. The
second he can do ; he must do; nor can any pre-
tence excuse the guilt of his neglect. How does such
a one know that this very moment may not be his last—
the last moment of mercy given him by the Almighty
to redeem his life from the hand of the spoiler? And
how will it be with him if he deliberately throws
away this last moment—declares, on system, that he
will not avail himself of this gracious opportunity,
but, as if " the supper of the Lamb" was a common
human banquet, resolves that he will accept an invita-
tion to it at a " more convenient season ?"

DISGRACEFUL FRAUD.—We have been requested
to state that some persons desirous of injuring the cha-
racter of the Anti-Monopoly Association of this town,
have lately adopted the following plan :—Letters are
issued in the name of the Association, professedly signed
by one or other of its officers, and addressed to various
parties. Some of them contain applications for money.
Several have been addressed to gentlemen of known
monopolist opinions, requesting them to act as stewards
at the approaching banquet. It may not be generally
known that this is an indictable offence, and the Council
have, we think, wisely offered 501. reward fbr such infor-
mation as may lead to the detection of the offender. It
may be proper here to state, that all letters issued by
the Association are prefaced with an engraved heading
of its name and motto, and if sent by post are prepaid.—
Li rerpool Times.
I3nocou FROM CORNWALL.— Very large quanti-
ties of brocoli are now sent to Bristol by the steamers,
for sale in the Bristol and Bath markets, or to be for-
warded by railway to London. The very large brocoli
raised in the west of Cornwall surpass everything of the
kind that can be raised in the neighbourhood of those
markets.—Royal Cornwall Gazette.
AMERICAN ORATORY. —" Now, my fair country-
women, with your permission, a word with you. I
grant ye that the Whigs have the advantage of us plain-
spoken Democrats in scented hair, diamond rings, and
white kid gloves—(Roars of laughter)—in the language
of compliment and the affectation of manner, and most
particularly, in their style of dressing. If one of these
exquisites wished to express the idea contained in the
home-spun adage, 'There is the devil to pay, and no
pitch hot,' be would say, There is a pecuniary liability
due to the old gentleman, and no bituminous matter of
the proper temperature, wherewith to liquidate the obli-
gation."'—New York Tribune.
LOTS OF BAIRNS AT EYEMOUTH.—If the man be
happy whose " quiver is liberally filled," the ladies of Eye-
mouth must have qualified their liege lords to talk boldly
with " the enemy in the gate." I never saw such swarms
of children as the door of every domicile presented. They
wore crawling in and out of boats, or creeping en the
quay or jetty, and as I foolishly imagined, in momentary
risk of drowning. "Do children frequently drop in ?"
I inquired, in a paroxysm of alarm, of the jolly hostess.
" Aye, aye,'the Pule things, they often fa' ower yen pier,"
she answered, coolly. " God bless me !—Lost of
course ?" " Na, na," returned the landlady ; " noo and
then, to be sure, a bairn's drooned ; but there's maistly
some idle body in the way to fish them oot, the deevils?"
Though the worthy hostess spoke so coolly on the sub-
ject, I thought it rather a risk, to allow two-year-olds,
to tumble into twenty feet water, depending on their
being " maistly some idle body in the way to fish them
oot."—Maxwells Wanderings.
THE ROYAL NURSERY.—WhiIe her Majesty and
Prince Albert are inhaling the genial and invigorating
sea breeze, and rusticating at Osborne, in the Isle of
Wight, the Royal progeny will be domiciled at the Ti- ,
turesque seat at Eaglehurst, which has been selected as
the marine residence of the Royal infants. The stately
tower of Eaglehurst is not far from Calshot Castle, in
the Southampton river, commanding beautiful sea views
in all directions, and is surrounded with rich plantations.
It was formerly the seat of the Earl of Cavan, and ori-
ginally built by the late Temple Luttrell. The lofty
tower of Eaglehurst is well known to seamen as " Lut-
trell's Folly."
KING GEORGE THE THIRD AND THE SCOTCH DIVINE.
—His Majesty, after the close of the American revolu-
tionary war, ordered a thanksgiving to be kept through
this kingdom. A noble Scotch divine, in the presence
of the King,.inquired, " For what are we to give thanks
—that your Majesty has lost thirteen of your best pro-
vinces ? ' The King answered "No "Is it, then
(the divine added), that your Majesty has lost 100,000
lives of your subjects in the contest ?" " No, no I" said
the King. "Is it, then, that we have expended and lost
a hundred millions of money, and for the defeat and
tarnish of your Majesty's arms ?" "No such thing,"
said the King pleasantly. " What, then, is the object
of the thanksgiving ?" " Oh, to give thanks that it is
no worse."

Mrs. Charke, the eccentric daughter of Colley Cib-
ber, had long lived on unpleasant terms with her father,
by whom she was treated with just severity for her total
disregard of all social duties and common decorum.
Being on one occasion greatly irritated by the dramatist's
refusal to honour her drafts, she equipped herself after
the style of a gentleman of the road, and hiring a suit-
able charger, actually waylaid her father upon Epping-
forest, by stopping his chariot, presenting her pistol, and
desiring him to deliver. The affrighted comedian, to
save his life, could do no less than part with his purse.
" Young man, young man," said the dramatist, " this is
a sorry trade, take heed in time." " And so I would,"
replied Charlotte ; " but I've a wicked old hunks of a
father, who rolls in money and mistresses, yet denies
me a guinea, and has had the impudence to make so
worthy a gentleman as yourself answer for it."-.-The
Elliston Papers, in Ainsworth's Magazine.
DARING ESCAPE OF A CONVICTED FELON.—Leach
Borley, a man who was, on Friday last, convicted be-
fore Sir John Matteson of maliciously setting firer
to
ofa
barley stack, the property of Mr. George qa 3lod_
Rymer House, and sentenced to transportation for life,
was immediately after his conviction conveyed with
other prisoners to the van usuatlalyheemphloiyed care
)
prisoners to and from the gaol - t S re hall. On the
arrival of the van at the gaol, the turnkey, as usual, went
to open the door of the van to let out the prisoners,
when Borley made n sudden spring from the steps.
The governor (Mr. Orridge), who was standing by at
the time to receive the prisoners, noticing the spring
of Borley from the steps, quickly attempted to
grasp his collar, but the rapid motion of the
convict prevented his so doing, and he, suddenly
eluding his grasp, ran off rapidly in a direction toivards
Haberden Grounds. Several of the turnkeys at-
tempted to follow him, but the darkness of the night,
together with the speed of the convict, prevented
their coming up with him. After the other pri-
soners in the van had been removed into the gaol, it
was discovered that Borley had, during his passage
from the Court to the gaol, taken off his shoes and
removed his handcuffs ; thus freed from all tram-
mel, he was enabled to exercise that • speed for
which he has been so long distinguished, and made
off— a speed . which bas rendered him popular
throughout the neighbourhood in which he resided,
and upon which he plumed himself so much, that
the notoriety thereof was even alluded to anti
commented upon in the course of his trial, when
no conception could be formed, after the solemn
judgment which had been pronounced upon him, of
the . extraordinary nature of its results ; the excite-
ment which this event produced in the town within
one hour after his eseape was so great, that it
exceeded belief and paralysed exertion. Mr.
Orridge, hou ever, with his well-known activity
(an activity which has been called into exertion
for the space of 46 years, and the anniversary of which
• 46th year, strange to say, fell on this very day), imme-
diately proceeded into the town, and caused hand-bills
descriptive of the prisoner's person and character to be
printed. tip to the hour of our going to press, we have
received no intelligence of the capture of the prisoner.—
. Ipswich Express.