The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-24 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

MEMOIRS OF POPULAR DELUSIONS. Vol. 3.
Bentley, London, 1842.
We noticed the two first volumes of this work
some months ago in The Sun, since which time a
third volume has made its appearance—the one
now before us—containing an account of the pro-
gress of alchemy during the middle ages, toge-
ther with short biographical sketches of the
chief professors of that exploded quackery; and
also some particulars respecting the fortune-
tellers and the animal magnetisers. The volume
is by no means so interesting as its predecessors,
for it is far less varied in its matter; still it will
possess an attraction for readers of a cynical turn
of mind, if only for the numerous glaring absur-
dities whicli it recounts. The earliest authentic
records we have of alchemy are of the date of
the eighth century, when it was a favourite pur-
suit with the more lettered Arabians. Three
centuries afterwards, we find it a popular matter
of belief among the most civilised nations of
Europe, and engrossing the time and attention of
the ablest men of the age. One of the most re-
markable dupes of this pretended science was
the notorious Gillis de Laval, Marshal of France,
and descended from one of the noblest houses in
Brittany. This monster in human form—who,
by-the-bye, was the original of the well-known
nursery legend of Blue Beard, a fact which Mr.
Mackay unaccountably omits—was born about
the commencement of the fifteenth century ;
and in his twentieth year came into possession of
the finest property in all France. This he
speedily dissipated in every species of wanton
extravagance, and then endeavoured to recruit
his finances by the aid of alchemy. Many
adepts at this quackery were, in consequence, do-
miciliated in his f-,stle' and amused him for
months together wiai promises of teaching him
the great secret of transmuting the baser metals
into gold, and prolonging his life for centuries.
But as months elapsed, and their promises
seemed as far from being realised as ever, the
Marshal turned them away indignantly from his
house, and pinned his faith on a wily Italian,
who volunteered to raise the Devil, if he would
only consent to sell his own soul to him. This
the Marshal readily agreed to do; but the Evil
One never came to fulfil his share of the contract,
and the Italian having by this time sufficiently
feathered his nest at his host's expense, set out
on a pretended journey in search of the Elixir
Vita, from which, it need scarcely be added, he
never returned. Another adept was then found,
and by him Gilles de Raval was advised—if he
wished to renew his youth—to bathe every morn-
ing in a bath made of children's blood; this the
monster actually did, and is supposed to have de-
stroyed upwards of a hundred of the young sons
and daughters of his tenantry, not for the purpose
of gratifying his lust—as Mr. Mackay supposes—
but for the reason we have just assigned. But
the Marshal's career was now drawing to a close;
public opinion was loud against him; and despite
the reluctance of the local authorities to inter-

fere with the practices of a French Nobleman of
such high rank, they were compelled to institute
inquiries, the result of which was that Gillis de
Raval was tried, found guilty, strangled, and af-
terwards burned. His castle still exists, though
in ruins, and such is the horror with which the
neighbouring peasantry regard it, that, if possi-
ble, they will never pass it after nightfal. In
Trollope s " Travels in Brittany" there are some
curious particulars respecting this monster. Mr.
Mackay's sketches of the Fortune-tellers contain
little with which the generality of the reading
public is not already acquainted.

RY.
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Ht oh
we
aNnldNifarTsoEnsE,iLV
oTnHdonC,
IEB4N2T. U
We have received the First Part of an English
Itinerary, which it is proposed to bring out
monthly in half-crown numbers, and in which
England, its manufactures, commerce, agricul-
ture, antiquities, scenery, &c., will be discussed in
the same manner, and with the same careful mi-
nuteness and accuracy that Mrs. Hall has mani-
fested in her " Ireland." For this purpose—say
the Editors in their prospectus—every. county
will be described from personal observation; the
illustrations will be drawn on the spot; the old
halls, battle-fields, and places remarkable in the
natural history, will be carefully noted ; and local
customs, legends, and singularities remarked;
but the antiquary and the chronicler will be fol-
lowed no further than may be required to explain
existing facts, the main object of the work being
to depict the present aspect of the country. The
Part before us is devoted exclusively to the con
sideration of the county of Lancaster; and in it
we have copious and particular details respect-
ing the progress of the cotton manufacturing sys-
tem in Manchester and the great towns in its
vicinity, together with a description of the spin-
ning jenny, and its celebrated inventor, Ark-
wright. The Part is embellished with a map of
the county, a view of the town of Lancaster, and
several minor engravings.

BOOK OF AMUSEMENTS. Strange,London,lB42.
A homely and unpretending work, in which
we find all the necessary rules and instructions
for playing games of skill and chance, amongst
others,cards,cliess, billiards, cricket, and archery.

A NEW ENGLISH GRAMMAR.
Simphin and Marshall, London, 1842.
This compilation is a useful and judicious one,
containing, among other requisites, a systematic
view of the formation and derivation of words,
which comprises Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Greek
lists, by whichis explained the etymology of
abovelis seven thou-sand English words.

We boar that Mr. Denison. the Member for
West Serrey, is seriously indisposed at his seat, the
Denbies. The Dowager Marchioness Conyughani has
been sent for express in consequence,
PUSEYISM.—
Theinhabitants of Ryde, Isle of
Wight, have addressed a strong memorial to the Arch,-
bishop of Canterbury against the pernicious doctrines of
this hypocritical sect in the Church.