Star.
London, England, 1827-08-21 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Narrative of Don Ann Van Haien': Imprisonment in the
Dungeons of the Inquisition at Madrid, drc. 4c. .2
vols. svo. COLBURN. 1827.
Isamu) NovwLl
Having afforded our readers a specimen of Van Ha-
len's interesting " Narrative" in a former notice, we
now proceed to the second volume, which details our
author's adventures in Russia ; and which, in our opi•
nion, constitute the most valuable portion of the work.
Van Halen, having resolved on entering the Russian
service, embarks for Hamburgh, and at Berlin meets
with a fellow-traveller in the person of Mr. Koch, the
Secretary of the Consul-General of the former place.
He had much reason to congratulate himself upon
making this Gentleman's acquaintance, for his enlight-
ened notions and great fund of information rendered
his conversation as varied as it was instructive, and
amply compensates for the many inconveniences of the
journey. Van Halen and his worthy companion had
reached Konigsberg, before our author was induced to
f‘ flow the example of Mr. Koch. in noting down obser-
vations during his journey. At the page at which ye
are arrived, however, we find • we can indulge our
readers with a bit of our author's pleasantry. He is at
Itiga, and describes the extraordinary industry of the
ladies ;

Riga did not seem to me a very cheerful city, Mr. Koch,
in order to compensate for the want of society, proposed our going
to the theatre, of which he gave me a most brilliant description. On
our repairing thither, I was so much disappointed both with the
appearance and size of the house, that I could not help remarking
the same to Mr. Koch, who. having seen a good deal of the world,
was a stranger to that national fanaticism so common to men who
have never travelled out of their Own country. lie laughed, and
said that I should nevertheless nod cause for amusement, and it
was even so; for so sooner had the ladies of Riga occupied their
seats in their hoses, than I fancied myself In sonic work-room ;
every oae of them busily employing herself in knitting stockings,
a labour which they performed with amazing dexterity of band.
This was to me a more novel and amusing spectacle than the per-
formance which I.did not understand. On leaving the theatre,
I was curious to see if the ladies continued their knitting during
their drive home, but I observed they bad put up their work for
the night.
At Darpat, Van Halen leaves hit companion—tra-
vels onwaids alone, and arrives at Petersburgh in a
state of extreme indisposition:
On arriving at the gates, a corporal desired me to alight, that I
might speak with the officer on guard, who, seekig my indisposi-
tion, made many apologies, and begged that' I would immediately
return to the earrisge, to which be accompanied me; at the
same tibse mentioning the formalities I was to observe with re-
spect to the police, and giving me some useful advice, saying.
among other things--" You come from countries where any re-
spectable person travels without a servant, and is everywhere
well received; but . here the masters of the hotels will think it
strange that you should come unattended, and if I bad tine of my
servants here at hand, I would with pleasure lend him to you,
that you might avoid the disagreeable inconveniences which I fear
you will eaperien,e."
With this I was partly acquainted from what Mr. Koch had
mentioned of the difficulty of finding private apartments in St.
Petersburgh, owing to the want of a certain middle class, who,

in most cities of Europe, let art of their houses for the sake of
economy. The event proved that the officer's apprehensions
were well founded ; for after driving about the principal streets
for more than four hours, we could end no lodging. On arriving
at the hotel of Londoo, to which I bad been recommended by
I the gentlemen of Nana, I Imagined I should gain admittance by
mentioning his name and recommendation • but though A had
many eters, I was not even listened to. They saw my want of
good fur firms and the rustic carriage, In which I arrived with-
out any attendant, and they shut the doors upon me. I experien.
ced the same treatment wherever I applied. At length, as we
passed before the hotel of Europe, which is situated opposite lib*
palace, and is doubtless one of the best, I made soother attempt.
but certainly did not expect to succeed. The master of the hotel,
however, without evincing the least disinclination to receive me,
conducted me to a large MOOD (the only apartment be bad then
vacant) which I accepted without hesitation, requesting him to
procure me a medical attendant to examine my chest, which had
grown much worse during my day's journey. He gave im-
mediate orders to this effect, procured me a servant to wait on
the, and constituted himself my superintendent, little aware of the
reduced state of my finances.
Our author's difficulties, however, soon vanish. He
has ktters of io roduction to several families ol distinc-
tion who warmly interest themselves in his beiali, and
finally obtiin fur him from the Emperor the rank of
Major in the Regiment of Dragoons of Nijegosode,asd
he speedily joins 'be Array of the Cauca.us (destined
to quell the revolts of the Tartar tribes), order-General
Yermolow. From this General, Van Hale's receives thd
kindest treatment, and he records the following sketch
of this brave, honourable, and uprigt,t character :
Yermolow spends most of his afternoons in active occupation.,
and genetally in the company of the young Aid.de.C.anips, whom
he takes a pleasure in forming ; but to none of whom he ever ,hews
the least partiality, which frequently excites jealousy, and spreads
disunion among the officers of an army. His orders, whether
written or verbal, are intrusted by him to the one who happens to
be near his person.
I have learned from persons who have known Gen.Yermolow from
his youth, that he always took the greatest pleasure in literary pur-
suits. and is deeply read in the classics. It is not surprWiiig then it,
with his studious habits, be should detest both drinking and
gambling, the last of which, so difficult to repress among his coun-
trymen. he never tolerates. Indeed, it is the only thing in which
he is intolerant, particularly if he feels any esteem for the person
addicted to this vice.

.....
In the evening, when the friends who hum his society witbdra*,
and his occupations permit it, he returns to his boobs and papery;
and as be never uses a watch, he seldom quits his studies till die
' sentry stationed near his window, who is purposely placed there by
his friends, reminds him of the lateness of the hour, by the waists
the makes when he is relieved. He then throws himself on his
comb, and before the cannon annowices the dawn, he is already on
foot and visiting the camp. Such is the invariable c,iiiduct of a
man bearing the weight of a multitude of cares, fatigues, and re-
sponsi►ility, in the most extensive and complicated goveinnient of
the Russian empire, especially eta time whets its southern frontiers
are in a state of insurrection. To treat the soldiers as it they wet.
his own brothers; to spare their blood as mach as possible, and in•
Min and consolidate their sueireseesit to make himself loved and re-
spected by all those under his orders; to be neither mi* nor timid,
as says the Latin motto of his coat of arrus;—such is Alexei Petro-
witch to his friends and his enemies.

The baneful influence exerted by Russia in the affairs of my un-
happy country, and the total impossibility of my again finding an
asylum in that empire, must render unsuspected the sentiments
which I here avow, and which are dictated only by a reg.rd for
truth and Impartiality, sad by the respect I feel for a man whole
public and private virtues render him an object of general esteem
and adentradon, except only to a few envious courtiers, inimical to
the true interests a their country.
With an anecdote and brief extract we must close.
The fair at Nijnei Novgorod :
In Russia the consumption of tea is very considerable, and, coo.
sequently, an article much in demand at this fair. One merchant'
alone, who had just arrived with his caravan from the frontiers of
China, bad the year on sale teas to the value of 3,u00,00n of
roubles'. This man, who cams always accompanied by his yaung
wife, a lady possessing many personal attractions yearly perish"' 4
'journey to China at the head of his caravans. One day we met
this lady at a shop buying four shawls, for which she paid 12,000
roubles.' We were surprised at seeing that a woman, who seareily
frequented society for twenty days in the year, (most of her time
being spent in travelling) should waste so much money in mere
articles of luxury; but she eapLtined the riddle to us, when she
noticed our surprise, by saying in a very graceful manner, that
was her husband liked to see her dressed in the European taabion,
she bought tho,e articles to wear them in their journey through the
deserts, her only happiness consi ring in pleasing him."

WEDDINGS AND FUNERAL CEREMONIES 'OF
Till GEORGIANS.

Although the Georgian weddings are similar to the Russian; as
far as regards the religious ceremony, they differ in other respect.,
particularly among the nobility. The marriages in this class are
alwayscontracted with a view to family interests, and very rarely
through love and esteem. It was formerly the coition for the
parents to betroth their children from the cradle,.anel their union
often took place at so early an age, that the united years of the bride
and bridegroom did not amount to twenty-four. ft was by this
means the unhappy parents eluded the tribute both of girls. nd boys
whom the 'fears of Georgia were obliged to send to the Mahometans
when they were tributary to them. Another indivensaMe part of
the etiquette was, that the betrothed persons should not have pre.
'busty seen each other, a custom which, since their intercourse.wiih
the Russians, is not so much adhered to. The ceremony to which
[allotted above, however, remains unchanged, such being the attach-
ment of these people to their ancient customs.
The bride proceeds to the church covered with a thick veil, in
which are two holes for the eyes, and the bridegroom leads her by
the hand to the altar with the anxiety natural to one who has not
the remotest idea of the physical or moral qualities of his bride.—
When the religious ceremony is concluded, they are conducted to
the house of the girl's parents amidst the bring of musketry, where
the couple are placed in the middle of a saloon, the bride, still
covered with her veil; and all their friends sit sound them, for
several hours remaining in the sari, attitude, without uttering a
single word, or taking any refreshment; whilst the bride and bride-
groom, by their immobility, appear more like two figures oo an
altar than two human helps., the latter probably praying Heaven
for a favourable denouement of this matrimonial drama. After
this long penance, the bridesmaid lifts up the veil of the briSe. It
may be easily conceived the different impressions which this act
must produce in the bridegroom, who, however, folds his wife in
his arms, of course more than once, if his prayer has been listened
to; and thus often love begins where etiquette ends.
Sdon after my arrival at Tellis, General Ahuerdoff, commandant
of the artillery of the Georgian army, whose house I had much fre-
quented, died in the flower of his age. Although I have always been
of opinion, that some better means than funeral processions and
parade might be devised to evince our regret for the loss of those
we love and esteem, the friendly terms on which I bad been with
the family obliged me to accept an invitation to attend the funeral.
I therefore repaired to the house of General Ahuerdof at the ap.
pointed hour, where I found the body lying in state. The officers
most attached to him acted as pall-bearers, and the military cere..
loony was in every respect similar to that used in Europe; but
immediately after the carper, the widow and children of the de-
ceased advanced on foot in deep mourning. On our arrival at the
church, she was led to the steps of the funeral monument raised in
the middle of the church, where she remained during the long
Greek requiem, offering the most afflicting spectacle imaginable ;
and, as if this were not spflicient, the wretched lady and her chit-
dren were conducted to the top of the monument, to take their last
farewell of the mortal remains deposited in the coffln. The scene
of distress which followed was of a truly heart.rending eat•re. It
confirmed me in my opinion of the uselessness of these distresdng
ceremonies, which, notwithstanding their antiquity, I cannot help
considering as and.religious ; the object of true religion being rasher
to soften than heighten our afflictions.
The Georgians observe the same rites in their funerals as the
Bamboo; let Mae of their ceremonies differ. Thus the '

• Tea I. dearer at Nljnei than in lensbod or Ng
bat the tavola is much finer than that which crone,

,MICIAIIIO %.01.
is the hone of
I• I
arth America ;
the 'eau •
,

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hr

f'

LONDON.

. . . *.t..,
the erclased (and there ars very fell /WV not prate/ 1
a bore.) always precedes the corpse ; earryins the Inver tediy.
' Behind the coffin come has rel. na, Marls/this arms lowered alumni
to the earth ; and its the rear( his whole family, mother, Miley
!1/4
brothers, duets, and chlldrh, utt ing at every moment the timet
lamentable cries. In the church the women remain prostrate on
the coin for minaret hours, and immediately after the interment the 1
sik Ventral. p returns to the house in the same order as before.
Therrien th witbduw, and the women seat themselves On the
ground around the widow, all observing the 'Most profound silence ;
until me of those who is reputed the most eloquent among them,
enumerates at Intervals some of the good qualities that adorned the
deemed; when the elimmous lamentations, groans, shrieks,. and
tam, eminsesece. The widow, whether she be Inclined or not,
scratches her face, tears tier hair, and does all in her power to dis-
figure herself. This ceremony is repeated every day for several
hours during the space of six weeks; and thus the disconsolate
relict undergoes a Lent of affliction. What artifices must be re-
sorted to in order to cause their tears to flow for such • length of
time! But absurd as is the custom, it is very difficult to alter the
usage here detailed.
In some of the provinces of the Caucasus where the Christian
religion is not protested, the sante curom Is observed. Our our.
prise, however, lessms respecting these long and weeping mourning',
when we are I 'formed that the women in this country are not
allowed to marry • second time; for when they do so they bring
upon themselves the execration of their friends ; a custom which is
perhaps no less absurd than the former.
We might go on extracting many valuable passages
from this interesting work, but our limits admonish u,:
W 3 therefc.re close with assuring the public, that Van
Haien% able production has our warmest recommenda-
tion, a. it is calculated to inform, instruct, and amuse
almost every class of reader.

VICTUALLING OFIICE, August 81, 1827.
THE COMMISSION ERS for Y ICI'U A GLIM&
his MAJESTrS NAVY, do. du hereby give notice,
Thu on WELNISDAT, the 29th instant, they will be ready to
receive Tenders in writing (seilM up), and treat for the supply
of the undermentioned articles, viz.

One Mildred Thousand Ganda, of RUM,
Teo Thousand Gallons of TENERIFFE WINE,
One Thousand Two Hundred Sachs of BISCUIT HEAL.

One Thousand Quarters of New Eiln.dried PEAS,
Fifty Tens of NIUSCOVADO SUGAR.
The whole to be deliverri into his Majesty's Victualling Storm, ot
Dept ford, one half to be delivered by the 15th of September ; end
the other by tke 30th of S.ptember next.
_ _ _

•
Samples of the Wine and Peas, of not less than Two Qoarts
tech, must be produced with the Tenders; but a Sample of the
Sugar may be seen at this Office.
The Conditions of the Contract may he seen at this Office.
Each Tender must specify the price in words at length, and be
delivered before One &Clock on the day appointed ; and the
Person who makes the Tender, or some Person on his behalf,
must attend to answer when called for.

Al. 'TALLER CLIFTOk.

THE EVENING STAR.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1827.
STOCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE CLOCK.

The great alarm and panic which prevailed for these two days
past, in the Consol market, has now ceased.
The Exchanges from Hamburgh, arrived this morning, come
rattier Usher, and gold lower. To send. gold, therefore, to that
market, would be anything but a profitable speculation. The
letters also to-day from Paris, bring the Exchange somewhat
higher.—Consols, which left off yesterday at 871 for the Account,
opened this morning at 87i, and soon after were done at 871 1, at
which price they may at present be quoted; and 881 for October.
In the Foreign market, little or no bosiness is doing.

Current prices t Old Spanish 9i 10, Alexican 68 I, Colom-
bian 31 I, Portuguese 75 76, Stasilisn 661 67, Russian 96j 1,
lanai* 64 I, Greet IS.

CITY. TWO O'CLOCK.
The Comm wide is not so good as in the earlier part of the
kwrnii jj, when they were done at Se; since which they have cle-
aned to tin, and have just been done at 1171 I.

PRICE OF MUCKS AT TWO U CLOCK.
Sank heck 21S1 India !tack

11 per Cent. Red. 881 1 1 Ditto Boni. 94
{pet Ct. Cons. 971 88 871 South Sea Stock
31 per Cent. 951 Old Annuities
31 per Cent. Red. WI 051 £lOOO Excheq. Bills 61 62 60
4 per Ct. New 101 i 4 1 £5OO Ditto
4 per Cent. Scrip £lOO •nd ,C 2013 Ditto
4 per Cent. 13146,1931 4 Commercial
Lone Auu. 20 1.16 Consols for Acct. 871 88 871
•
FOREIGN FUNDS, TWO O'CiAlcrs.
Brazilian Bds.s p Ct. 664 Mex. l?ou.•r 5 per Ct.
Do. Ace. 661 Do. Acct.
ouunloan I.orni., 6 p Ct. 97 D0.8d.,. 825,6 pCt. 681 1 71 1 ,
Ditto M 6,1824,31 ::01 Do. Acct. 681 7; 1 1
Do. Account 31 111..5.11.1.,11,1x2,5pC.
Naiades ►td.. 5 p Ct 631 Do Acct. 061
Do Acet:63l French Ecntes,.s p C. 1041 SOc
Grilds.lBxs, 5pCt.151 Exchange, 251 25c
BRITISH AND FOREIGN SIIARKS, TWO 0.0.0 CF
IRA II& PA 111.
Potosi La Paz & Peru.. Ann. 15 _ 5
Mann Alliance 100 5
Provincial Bank of Ireland 100 25

L 3 19s
4i
211

FRISCH Feigns, Aronsr 13 —Fhe per Cents. tO4f. 45c.—Three
per Cents. 731. 60e.— IS .I,k Slack 50c..—Neapolitan Rentes,
73f. 60c. Exchange t.n London, one month, 3t. 61c. Three
=oaths, 3f. 511 c.

About one o'clock this day the KING came to
S. James's Palace, where his MAJESTY held a Privy
Council; on which occasion the Racoatnan's report was
made to his MAJESTY of the prisoners who were capi-
tally convicted (Wing the July Sessions, at the
Old B,il•y.

Private letters, received this morning from Barcrlon:

to the ltth inst. represent the whole of Catalonia as
being in a state of open insurrection. The peasant•,
excited by the Priesthood, had everywhere joined the
factious, and, in the naales of religion and loyalty, were
committing the greatest excesses. These are the blesstd
fruits of the restoration of the beloved FERDINA ND to
absolute power; and such are the gifts which his Most
Christian Majesty, in the °eel flowing of his love, has
conferred upon a neighbouring and friendly nation.
However, these excesses will be productive of good in
the end, whilst they will probably have the immediate
effect of diverting the attention of the Spani.h Moaarch
from the affairs of Portugal. Andalusia, too, according
to accounts which reached us this morning, has been the
theatre cf very serious troubles.—At Seville several
lives were recently lost, in consequence of an attempt
tr bring some incendiaries to justice, who had shewn
their love of the throne and the altar, by trying to set
fire to the town.

We learn Ly the hrirate letters this morning from
Paris, that the Governor of Guadeloupe has apprised
the French Government, that the island has suffered

severely this year from want of rain,andthat provisions
*fait binds have become very scarce and very dear In
prilliteente. The Governor has :quested the F,enck
Minister of Marine, to who* department the Colonies
are attached, to invite the Chamber of Commerce to
make immediate shipments of corn and other necessa-
ries for the island.

The Austrian (Arm et, which reached us this morn-
ing, contains an account of a most destructive fire at
Jassy. in Moldwvia, on the Slit ult. by %%Lich a consi.
derable portion of that large city was laid in ashes. An
immense desttuctien of life and propeity also took
place; and it was %jilt difficulty that the Hospodar
and his family made their escape from the raging ele-
ment. His Palace, however, as well as the Palaces of
sevetal of the principal klayars, fell a prey to the
flames. The afflicting particulars will be found in an-
other column.

The obscrver contains no political news of the least
importance, that had not previously reached us through
oilier channels. It has not a single word in the way
of intelligence or speculation on the subject of Greece,
and not so much as an allusion to that great and glo-
rious diplomatic measure, the Treaty for the Pacifica-
tion of Greece. the List is too .ticklish CI discussion,
and though painful, beyond any proceeding of out

time, to the A postolical Cabinet of Vienna, yet the latter
has not ventured to give public vent to its feelings on
he subject. Publicity, which in a perilous emer-
gency, may be termed a safety salve to Govern-
ments. constituted upon rational principles, is a
source of inexpressible annoyance to the Statesmen
of the Austrian Empire, for their policy is one that will
not bear the light, butis suited to the dim light of the
monastic cell, or the dark chambers of the Inquisition.
It keeps its authors, however, in a constant state of hot
water, and the national interests, in imminent jeopardy.
:Man., only resource, when their system is menaced, is
sriOlince,hut it is an expensive resource; for to be oblig-
ed to shake military demonstrations upon a large scale, as
ftenis'xiMpolitical horizon becomes clouded,
-ahem without the necessary me ins,whea the perilous mo-
isnot actually arrives. In war, their operations tmemble
the movementsofa scotched Ina ke.ss hrlst they are evi.
free from feverish excitement in peace. They pay
dtarly, rherefote, for their irbi!raey practices and legi-
timate ptedilectious; whilst Statesmen, whose policy is
regulated according to the wants and wishes of man-
kind, or, in other words, conforms to the spirit of the
age, have uniformly the vantage ground in peace and
war. We bare seen this truth repeatedly illustrated rf
late, when Englsnil,. without equipping an additional
-ship, or moving a single regiment; carried several
questions of paramount importance against the wishes
of all the other great Powers of the wi.r:d. Whilst she
teas fighting these battles of the Cabinet, she was re-
ducingles expenditure at the same time; and the country
had the satisfaction of seeing her consideration abroad
increat.e, and her burthens at home d mini h,
i.eously. In saving Portugal, -lie was obliged to incur
expense, because that country was the scat of actual in-
vasion; but, how slight was that expense, as compared
with the results! Portugal has.. relapsed; it ft true.
into her former state of -agitation; 'but the same
hand, sshich extricated her before, is capable and It Ming •
•
to render a similar office again. -Aosta*. and Trance
may conspire in secret, and the wretched Government"
of Spain organise another invasion, for the purpose of
overturning the Conststuiional system—.ll will fail,
both the underhand intri,:,uts and the osien violence;
and we have not the least doubt, but th it the result will
sie a new and complete ilium's!) of the go.sci over the
bad pi inciple.

We al- n received this Mot ning Hamburgh Papers to
ihe 19th inst. by which *e learn, that Mr. Iluscissou
left Mun'ch on the 7th inst. for the baths of Gastrin
He little tz, ecied at the time the blow that awaited
him—a blow, that has t'eprive4 him of the most valued
of his ft kilt's, and Isis country of one of the grettest of
hes Statesoun, ram orpreteut.. Them is na oiler io-
tell'gence ofseneitil irtetest is thew Pares.

The Messenger who was dispatched to Mc.,Hussta
anti is o: oil etstd. to Mora Warn idoy west at the
el.rl est.
This der the LORD CHANCELLOR' attended the House
of Lords, for the purpose 01 esecuting his MAJISTes
Commission fur the tut Cher prorngation 01 Parliament,
which stands prorogued to the 2,5:h el October.
The Cabinet Comma which was hell yesterday sit tl e
Foreign Dike, Downing-street, was attended by the Lord Chancel
Tor, the Duke.of Puttland, the Marquis of Laindown, the 11larquI4
of Anglesey, Viscount Gin:leach, girl of Carlisle, Viscount Dudley
and Ward. Viscount Palmerston, Lord Bexley. Mr. Wynn, and
,Mr. Tierney. The Ministers sat ha deliberation till half-put four
o'clock. On the breaking up of the Council the Loan CHASCILLLOIL
had an interview with Viscount GODERICK.

The Q•teen of WURTIMILRG left the seat of the
Princess A=MA, at Frogatore, yesterday morning, for the resis
&nee of the Duke and Duchess of CLAIVICI, in Bushy Park,
arlisre her htisruxtr will remain a few days on a vi.it to her Royal
relative.

Th. M.irquis de PALWIRLLA. the Po to uese Am
hissador, and the Count de VILLA RILAL. the mew Purtugue.e
Mini •ter, had a long conference yesterday with Viscount Duncsr
and Want), at the (Ake of the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs. _ . _

Prince ESThaHAZY, the Austrian Ambassad ttani-
acted business yesterday. at t'se Foreign Wee.
• Mr. Hennas came to town ye►te,d ry morning from
his seat at •Mentreai. _

We regret to state that the Archbishop of CANTIIII-
- is labouring under verr•aerions indisposition.
A priv4e letter from an Entisir o,ficer in Lisbm,
dated the 4th instant, states, that tranquillity had been
again restored. The experimental squadron were
cruising outside the Bair, but were in sight at the date
of the letter.--id Last week •e were in considerable
stir, arming from a change of Ministry,by SALDArHA,
the Minister of War, insisting on some of his col-
leagues being turned out; instead of which he was
turned out himself. Bein4 a great favourite with the
lower classes and the Clubs, they raised a hue and
cry ; threa•ened his oppcnents, and otherwise made a
great noise; but all now is quiet again."