The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-01 00:00:00

AINSWORTH'S MAGAZINE.

--
Mr. Ainsworth continues his "Miser's Daughter"
with spirit, though we must enter our protest against
one of the incidents, as wearing too much the aspect
of improbability. For instance, he describes a Sir
Bulkeley Price as riding through the streets of West-
minster at the head of a troop of fourteen armed
horsemen, " every man being provided wiih two bags,
each containing five houndred pounds in gold, slung
over his saddle-bow ;" and then laying down these
" precious sacks" at the street-door of the Miser's
house, to whom the Baronet owed the money. Now,
this is a " New Way to Pay Old Debts" which we
cannot help thinking is somewhat at variance with
the ordinary usages of the period at which the circum-
stance is supposed to have occurred ! We should
have doubted its probability even in the turbulent
times of the Plantagenets ; but it comes on us like a
shock when we bear in mind that it is represented to
have taken place at the comparatively modern and
business-like period when Fielding was alive, and
writing his " Tom Jones." Sure are we, that there is
no incident so strange or out-of-the-way in the pages
of this novelist. If we except this defect, there is
no fault to be found with the present chapter of the
" Miser's Daughter," which contains an ably con-
ceived character in the person of one Crackenthorpe
Cripps—a good-for-nothing fashionable valet, who
bids fair to furnish the reader with no ordinary
amusement. " Proverbial Philosophy" is by Mr.
Tupper. Some few of the thoughts are subtle and
ingenious, and we at once acknowledge the force and
truth of the aphorism that " Pride kicks at obligation
awl pushes the giver from him." Would that all
the proverbs were equally natural and intelligible !
But many of them are so cloudy in thought and
vague in expression, that «c can make nothing of
them. We quote one of the best, which will con-
vince our readers that Mr. Tupper—despite his occa-
s'onal quaintness and obscurity—is a just and earnest,
if not deep or original, thinker:—

" Give to the Poor discreetly,
Nor suffer idle sloth to lean upon thy charitable arms;
To Diligence give, as to an equal, cm just and fitting occasion ;
Or he bartereth his hard-earned self-reliance for the casual
lottery of gifts :
The timely loan hath added nerve, where easy liberality would
palsy ;
Work and wages make a light heart, bat the Mendicant asketh
with a heavy spirit.
A man's own self-respect is worth to him more than money ;
And evil is the Charity that humbleth, and maketh man less
happy."

These striking thoughts deserve a more lasting re-
cord than is to be found in the perishable pages of a
Magazine. Dr. Franklin would have been delighted
with them; and even Paley would have confessed that
they were worthy to vie with the shrewdest reflections
in his " Moral Philosophy." The " Grave-digger" is
an interesting story, told with feeling and simplicity,
and the sketch of a village churchyard, with which it
is introduced, is as just in idea as it is easy and grace-
ful in expression. " Science and Good Humour" is
an airy, sportive poem, full of delicate raillery.
" Strawberry-hill" is an account of the curiosities to
be found in this " Birmingham Toy-shop," as Burke,
not inappropriately, styled Horace Walpole's favourite
retreat. The "light of the Fiddlers" is a so-so tale
by Mr. James. From " A Day and Night on the
Banks of the Euphrates," we quote a passage that
may possibly- amuse our readers :
Our road lay along the banks of the Euphrates, which was
now seen to the greatest advantage in the moonlight, broad
shadows being thrown on the lucid bosom by the dependent
landscape. In a short time, si e began the ascent of some hills,
the crest of which we had no sooner gained than my guide laid
himself down on the ground, and scanned the naked upland that
now extended before us. I sat down in the meantime. When
no had finished his survey, he slowly muttered the words " No
Arabs," as if he himself had not been ale. He then came
and placed himself by my side, in closer propinquity than was
desirable, while he put forth his hand to examine the steel
buckles of my braces (for I wore no waistcoat), which shone
like silver in the moonlight. In doing this, his hand trembled,
and betrayed his intentions. I rose quickly, and seized a stone,
he at the same moment lifting his club, and holding out his
hand, rubbing the thumb and forefinger together—a significant
manner of asking for money, common to many parts of the
world. The indignation with which I regarded my antagonist
was now at its height. It is true he was tall and bony, but he
was aged, and not even active; his forehead " villanous low,"
his nose long, his eyes red and turulent. It was, however,
for our mutual advantage that peace should be established ; so
walking on, and keeping all the time beyond the reach of the
club—retaining, moreover, possession of the stone for fear of
renewed hostilities, we argued the master over in a pleasing
and edifying manner. Pint; he asked frr money; I told him
I had none : then for my fez-4 said I could not expose my
head to the sun : then for an Arab kerchief I had tied round
my whist ; knowing the value he would set upon this, I deter-
mined to propitiate him, if possible, and gave it up. He then
put his club in his waistband, and a temporary confidence was
re-established. We now. turreid. flown a ravine, and then
crossed some low hills, when my guide again resumed the re-
cumbent position—the usual reconnoitring posture of the Arabs.
I advanced, and to my delight, for it was jest break of day,
found the river flowing below, , with inhabited islands on its
bosom, and between me and it a cultivated and peopled country.
My guide went no further than this spat • it was in vain to
urge him : he was as much in dread of fellahs as he might
have been of Turkish authorities; so I descended the hills by
myself. But my mishaps had not quite terminated; for some
fellahs labouring in an adjacent field observing me, hurried
away at full speed to intercept me. They were armed with
small hatchets, which they waved ovrr my head. I told them
that I had been robbed of everything on the hills, and they did
not discredit the story, but contented themselves with the ker-
chief round my neck, without examining my person. It was
the third and last I had to give.
Proceeding a short distance beyond this, I came to some
cottages. Here there were some Arab women, who received
me most kindly, and gave me milk. From them I first learned,
to my infinite joy, that the steamer was not far distant, behind
one of the islands. This turned out to be the case ; and I had
not travelled many miles down the river, before I distinguished
the funnel among the column-like date-trees.