The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-01-23 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

U.II.THORPE; on, FALLEN FORTUNES.

In the last season we noticed a work entitled,!
" Mystery ; or, Forty Years ago ;" pronouncing our
opinion of its great merits, and devoting that brief
portion of our space which can be occupied by sub- i
jects of this nature, to a strenuous recommendation of
the book, not so much from our own observations, as
from the extracts which we laid before our readers.—
Most gladly do we again welcome its author in the
pages of the novel by whose title this article is head-
ed. Again do we recognise the same observant ex-
plorer of the human heart--the same powerful, acute
criticism and satire, blended with the same impassioned
gl•or of descriptive language, when treating-of the more
exalted impressions and dispositions of the human mind.
Whateveir good may have arisen towards the progress
of literature, by the appearance of those transcendent
works of genius generally denominated the Scotch
novels, one indeniable evil has been the consequence j
of their extreme popularity. It has created among
our best writers an almost general feeling of distrust
fur every other style of novel-writing. A feeling rer-j
tainly not arising from any existing convictica
amongst such men that our earlier writers have been
substantially, and " for all time," eclipsed by the
• productions to which we allude; but from a too pre- j
talent distaste among the great mass of the reading'
public; fur every thing in the shape of a novel, which
does not proceed from the same pen. Thus it is
that the nervous and masculine writings of Smollett,
Fielding, &c., are now comparatively unattended to,
or utterly disregarded; and the natural result has been'
that those authors are neither imitated nor followed in I
Me noble, and, if we may use the term, the na-
tional style and manner which they have left as a
proud inheritance to the country which gave them
birth. Holding these opinions, then, we do most cor-
dially hail a disciple of the good old school in the ast•
thor of the volumes now before us. t'althorpe is writ-
ten, in its butuourous parts, in the entire vein of
Smollett ; at the same time possessing the alternate
relief of the most pathetic and intensely interesting
hcideats and situations connected with its plot. 'the
author is sometimes political, and with a fairness
which at least disarms censure, takes up the cudgels
pro and con. IVe shrewdly suspect, however, that he
wields them against us con (mot e. However, lie 'makes
up matters sufficiently well to prevent a quarrel between
us, by introducing a good caustic representation of
one of your thorough paced courtiers,. In the course
of the work there are sonic highly interesting parti-
culars respecting the state of Leipzig and its neigh-
borhood during the tremendous battle fought at that
city between the Allied Powers and Napoleon Bona-
parte. We lay the extract before our readers.
" Though but very poor accommodation could be
afforded to an invalid at that time, Brinkman appeared
to revive, though his state remained such that he
could not be removed.

" A dismally dark, damp, and foggy day succeeded
that on which henry had prkssed Louisa to retire to
place of safety. 4t was ushered in by a firing of ar-
tillery, which commenced shortly after six o'clock in
the morning; and at ten the thunder roared along the
whole of the extended lines" of the opposing hosts.
'the clouds began to disperse, and, amidst the alarm
and confusion which prevailed, there were not want-
ing those who were content to expose their lives, to
gratify their curiosity with a view of the battle. But
without stirring front Leipzig, the mass of the inha-
bitants had ample opportunities of contemplating
some of the most striking features of war. Before the
city... of the east day of that tremenions conflict, hun-
dreds of pour wretches mutilated, faint, and still
bleeding, were seen in every . part of the town, seek-
it •g, but in vain, for relief. The corn-magazine had
ba,cii cleared fur the reception of these unfortunate
leings. This plate could not contain more than front
two to three thousiii.l patient.; but tickets were given
at the outer gate of the city to snore than thrice
that number. Sonic what bud left a limb on the tieltl,
hoping to receive inediettl assistance and refreshment,
wally a desperate attempt to reach the hospital, and,
exhausted by fatigue and loss of blood, sunk down,
apparently in a dying state, on their way. Here they
nimbi remain for a time, silent'and motionless, and
than vartly rise and implore the passing stranger to
bestow a glass of water. In some instances the re-
quest was complied with from feelings of humanity, in
others front fear: for the inhabitants, accustomed to
Nor from the French the most confident anticipations
of victory, and remembering their successes in all
]flits of the Continent, were credulous enough to be-
lieve, whgn moon:laded to celebrate a victory on the
first day of the battle, that the issue of the struggle
was no longer doubtful The bells of the churches
bounded merry peals, While the canuodade still conti-
nued, and while the wounded, the dying, and the
dead, belonging to the French army, strewed in fright.
ful disorder all the streets of Leipzig. Some of the
sufferers, on gaining the hospital th which they had
',veil a ticket of admission, had the misery to find
•
it was already filled, and that they bad to remain
ueslielteted, ttarefr led, and asattenaled, in the
ibitlei of a crowd of •serable befogs, victims of the
1,1
smite calamitv wise/ c groaning, praying, swearing,
and frantickly calling forfeiter, sitheat the slightest
prospect of obtaining it.
" the following' ay was Sunday, anal both parties,
as if from respocrfor the Sabbath, seemed reluctant
to renew the work of slaughter. A partial cannonad-
ing was occasionally heard, but the enormous masces,
ranged in oppo.ition to each other on the preceding
day, had retired to some distance from the grand
theatre on which the awful tragedy was pea formed.
" Many who had failed to obtain relief in the city,
sought it in the suiratbs, and with piteous moans
implored the compassion of the inhabitants. Some of
the latter recognised, lia the supplicants, those who,
but a day or two before, bad outraged them in all the
gaiety of anticipated triumph, and exulted in the con-
trast between theirtpresent misery and their recent in-
solence.
" Henry seldom left the cottage; but this day, baring
ventured a few yards front it, on his return he found
the lower apartment occupied by a French lieutenant,
woo, wounded himself in the right hand, had, with
the assistance of a twitter, conveyed a brotherof-
ticer thus far, whose leg had been shattered, bringing

I

111

THE St)

with him, at the same time, an apothecary's appren- '
the inclement/ of the weather ; isJ 11, tteio. ve him, if
tice by main force. He had seated the patient on the possible, in an hour or two.
ground, and lie now ordered the bey to amputate the "He was just retiring; whelhithedtlber French ofd-
injured limb. cers made their appearance, attended by several soldiers,
" With tears in his eyes, the youth asserted his ins- and a servant. Without taking any notice of Henry,
bility to comply with the mandate, but his hesitation or making any enquiry, they ordered the men to
was ascribed to preversenees, and the lieutenant re- make every thing ready_for the reception of a general
,proachfally replied, partly in the French, and partly officer, who had been severely wounded, and for whom
in the German language, that he would have been no secure lodging had been prepared.
able to perform such an operation for a Prussian, an " Henry attempted to speak, but they reiterated the
Austrian, or a Cossack, but that because this poor order previously given, without attending for a moment
man had been guilty of first seeing the day in France, lto what he had to say. Le Bien now interfered, and
he was determined not to aid him. His friend, he assured the party that the inhabitants of that house
added, must lose his life if the leg were not taken off, were exceedingly well affected towards the Freneh ;
and therefore it should be done ; and the apprentice and had just kindly received one wounded man. He
of the apothecary was further informed, with some-, added, that the proprietor was himself confined to his
thing of playful humour, that was strangely at earl- bed by indisposition; and he earnestly entreated that
ance with the earnestness and sensibility of the former these circumstances might be taken into consideration, 1
part of this !Tech, that if he longer objected to render and the order just issued revoked.
._
a poor wounded man so trifling a favour as that of de- " The reply was very brief. It came to this, tnat
tacking a limb, he (the lieutenant) would confer a whoever the owner of the lionse might be, he must in-
greater obligation than that which he had craved stantiv leave it at all risks, as the case was one that
for his suffering companion, on the intended operator admitted of no delay.
himself, by amputating his head. " Le Blun called Henry aside. ' I am sorry for this
" The Frenchman never doubted but he was doing business,' said he ; ' but there's no help for it.
the kindest and most judicious thing in the world, Whatever you may say or do redress is out of the ques-
when he thus iirsisted that a poor ignorant boy should tiun ; and. c'est la guerre will be the answer to all
take upon himself to act the part of a surgeon, by vie that you may urge. There is a good strong truck
luckless countryman. Aware that he was incompetent, at the doer, in which some of the neighbours were
the youth had very properly shrunk bark from the removing a bed-ridden old woman, who actually ex-
work, but finding that his diffidence served but to in- pired front ,terror when she had got thus far. They
sense Lieutenant Le Rhin, (that was the name of have left her; Ell hoist her out of it; and if you like
the officer who commanded on this occasion) ; finding to move your friend in it, I'll assist you.'
indeed, that there was no alternative, be most ?eine- "' He is not in a state to be moved.'
tam's- took a knife in hand. Le Blurt exhorting his " ' But there's no alternative. C'est la guerre is all
friend to bearthe operation like asoldier and a French- . that you will hear, urge his distressing case as long as
man, and withal assuring him that the pain would be i you will. Now, entre sons, the best thing you can
trifling, took charge of one of his arms, and the sat- Idois to avail yourself of this opportunity. Bad as
tier, who had been pressed into the service as well as matters are to-day, they will be worse to-niorrow, when
the apprentice, having secured the other, the grand the battle will again rage in all its former fury. Out
business commenced, and the lad, aiming a little above your friend must go. I am in doubt whether mine
the joint, soon made a gash of very respectable appear- , will be suffered to stay where he is ; but when houses
ance. Le Blun already began to chuckle on the sue- ' are in such request that even Frenchmen are liable to
cessful accomplishment of the undertaking, not failing be compelled to leave, of course the owners can't expect
to remind the sufferer, that he had told him the pain permission to remain.'
Was not worth mentioning. The apprentice, cheered " There was but too much reason in what Le Mon
by the applause which lie understood to he cal'ed forth ! liad.said. To Henry it appeared that there was no
by his surgical skill, proceeded with more intrepidity choice left ; and when he reflected tin the frightful
than at first. But matters did nut go on quite so , situation in which Louisa was placed where they then
swimmingly; and the awkward digs and saws that he I were; he listened r ith interest to the advice which Le
made, though borne with exemplary calmness and ad-' Blun went on to give, that lie should wake his way
rideable fortitude by Le Binti and his sutler-assistant, : for Sclionfeld, and then endeavour to reach Duben,
were found in no small deoree inconvenient to a third i where lie thought he might stop with tolerable 1
party. He, put to his mettle by the exlvortation of his safety : fur, said lie, in a whisper, ' Though I have
friend, had in the first instance, determined not to no doubt the Emperor will gain the victory, we have
utter a word while the operation was perform- I suffered so much that we shall not be able to pursue
ing, and, in pursuance of this resolution, his I the enemy. We shall soon pay Berlin a visit ; but for
nether lip bad been deliberately introduced between the present yon will be pretty safe on any of the roads
his teeth, and now, from extremity of pain, it was that lead to it, when you get ten or twenty miles from
fairly bitten through. Though his mouth was closed, Leipzig.' "
and a free expression denied to his agony, he continued f
to groan very audibly. Ile endeavoured to restrain ; A case of vast importance to the parishes in which
himself more than lie hail previously done, but his miners are situated, came on at the Cornwall Sessions.
eyes rolled wildly, and his writlehoga °made that con- Thomas Canyon Esq. appealed against the Pour's-
fession of extreme pain. which he 11.113 ...ast anxious rate of the parish of St. Austell, by which his dyes,
to subdue, and no particular iojunction having been as owner of the soil of Great Crinnis mine, were as-
laid on his bands, one of them, in the height of his sessed. The Bench considering the question to be
torture, grasped the stittler by the small of the thigh • one of great interest to the county, granted a case i
with such energy, as nearly to take a piece out of it. for the decision of the Court of King's Bench.—
This produced a manifestation of sympathy, such as Should the derision be in favour of the appellant, the •
he had shown for no former sufferer, and the settler dues from all the mines in the county will be exempt
bounded from the spot which he had previously oc- i from contributing towards the support of the poor ; a
cupied, with a degree of velocity that was extremely , measure that must occasion the total ruin of the far- ,
creditable to his agility, and which, in fact, could ; tiers, and finally destroy the property of the land- !
not have been surpassed, had he been barked by the I owners. The mines collect a population incapable of
propelling power of a sixty-four pounder. The con- i obtaining support by any other means than that of
fusion consequent on this sudden ss*rtt :tnahled the i 4'
workino. them, and the mums are peculiarly liable to I
apprentice to get to the outside of the house, and ! accidents and disease, from the nature of their ens-
being there, be took to his heels, without detaining ployment. If those who derive the greatest advert.
Monsieur be Blun to bid him adieu. tage from mining are to be exempt from all share of
"'Henry now addressed the Lieutenant in brench.hut the bitrthen they bring on the pai:ishes which they
happening to hesitate a little, from not beisig much in surcharge with a population fur their peculiar advan-
the habit of conversing in that language, he wan tage, either the farmers must abandon these parishes,
promptly relieved front the difficulty by i.e Nun, or the landlords must be content to let their estates
"I Speak out, speak out in English, I shell tinder- for "pepper corn " rents.
stand yon. I perreivo• by your accent that you are . A Cosiscoresce or SupaasTmoar.— In the even-
front that island, which has given France so much ' ing of New Year's day, as the wife of Edward Jow-
trouble, and I have picked up the English tongue in sey, a pitman, residing at Byker-hill, was endeavour-
Spain, so you need put yourself to no pain to hold a ing to obtain a light at the fire (which had nearly
conversation with me.' gone out during her absence) by sprinkling sonic
"• I can have little difficulty,' replied floury, ' in griefilwder upon it, she unfortunately let the bottle,
expreping in either language nil that f have to suf. i which contained a considerable quantity, slip from
I would merely point out that this is a private honi i , husband, when an explosion immediately followed,
r,t
plundered, and almost pulled down, as you ntay see - and she and her infant chid were blown to the oppo-
those who have been here before. An invalid is at- i site side of the room, and were he, severely burnt
ready in it, and you would therefore shew kindness WI mud wounded ; the window and par: of the wall were
your friend, (as well as to theowner of this 'our abode) I forced away, and a bedstead was shattered to pieces.,
if vou would cause him to be removed to some place . The woman was taken to the infirmary, and is reco-
where be may receive that attentian of whit* he stands ' irering ; but the child died on Sunday se'nnight, after
in need, and which he cannot find here.' suffering greatly. A superstition prevails with many
" • C'est tin leo,e aria. That is red, good advice I of the common people in this part of the country,
must Own, but my dear fellow, how the dpvil am I to • that ill' lurk will surely befal the person who gives a
act on it? I Would not have taken the trouble of bring- light to any one on the first day of the new year; in
ing, this man here, if I could have found any other the present instance this foolish notion proved of
place to put him in. He and I had agreid„ fhat if it ' fatal consequence, for the pitman's wife had applied
were possible, in the event of one being wounded, the to a neighbour for a light, and was refused, which
other should carry hint to a plate of security. I have , put the poor woman to the necessity of using the
endeavoured to keep my word, but the seelerat, the. gun-powder, as she had no matches.
snrgeon that I brought with me, has made his escape.' ' Hunts tiIUDT OF .It'STICIADV.—On Monday, Andrew
But I hope you will find some fitter acconomoda- Greenfield was placed at the bar, charged with a rape,
tion for the wounded titan.' and with assanlting Sarah Andrews, with intent to
" • Von are very gout!, but I out afraid it is not pos- pe'peti ate that crime, on the 15th of October last, '
sible.' Le Blurt spoke with good-humoured gravity, on the highway leading from Linlithgow to Queens-
and not with the slightest intention of being earcastic ferry. The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty, and the
or insolent. ' However, it don't signify much to hie.l.Court, as is naual in such cases, was cleared. We ,
You see he has fainted already from loss of blood. I }understand that the pliblic prosecutor gave up the
dare say lie won't trouble you long.' I case on the examination of Sarah Andrews, who de-
"' Bat, Sir, you should remember, as I told you be. ; dared that the prisoner was not theguilty person. I
fore, that this is a private house.' I EDINDURGII, JAN. 17.—This morning, Samuel
" , Vest la genre. Your Ere:fish cry, of every i Maxwell paid the forfeit of his life to the injured laws ,
man's house is his castle,' caniout he respected in lof his country. He ascended the scaffold a few mi-
times like these. We are obliged to scramble OD arwe 1 nutes after eight, attended by the Rev. D. )I'Knight,
can, and you will net be used worse than your neigh- land, after a short time employed in most fervent
hours, if we turn your house into a French hospital.' I prayer, was launched into eternity. He struggled
•• •Burleighwarmly complained of this treatment from very bard, and seemed to die with great pain. -11 e was
friends and allies. 'The Frenchman as warmly retort. a stout, good-looking young man of 21 years of age.
ed; but finished by directing the:sidles of Henry :f be multitude was immense, which soon_ afterwards
to the situation of kis companion, bpora.appeal to spicily aliapersed, and at the usual time the body was
his humanity, equally eoce.ntrie mak tadbhing. !I lie attuned for iatermetlt by his friends. Maxwell and
latter could not insistapen forciartheewahawssed sof— .ffilusilten were convicted of breaking into the bowie of
ferer into the.strestt i add the fersestowia4sed toieek a Mr. Arnie', in the neighbourhood of Paisley. Ha-
for some other place where be cot be screened from stilton has since been respited.
t

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