representations of our naval battles on graphic record, the victory of the first of June, obtained by Howe, and that of the Nile, by Nelson. Two magnificent pictures by this master, were engraved by Fitler; this print of the attack of the Chevrette, is worthy of the same ingenious hands. The intimate knowledge of marine subjects, the nature of modern warfare, the manner of attack and defence, either as exhibited in mighty fleets, or in the contest between individual vessels, were never more faithfully displayed than in the compositions of De Loutherbourg. In that before us, we have a masterly illustration of his descriptive powers. The bold crews of the boats, with their muffled oars, with the towing ropes to keep each together, are seen storming the bows of the corvette with that simultaneous impulse which nothing can resist. The desperation with which the enemy vainly oppose the attack, with hand grenades, and other missiles, and the dashing style with which the few British sailors and marines who have already boarded are driving them from the fore-castle, are so strikingly depicted, that the scene resumes the terrific appearance of reality. The gallant affair was thus officially communicated by the admiral. “Sir, "To Evan Nepean, Esq. "I have the honour of enclosing, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a letter from Captain Brisbane, of His Majesty's ship the Doris, who commands the frigates employed in watching the enemy's flect at the entrance of Brest harbour, in which important service he has shown a great deal of zeal and enterprise. "This daring exploit appears to me to stand as high, in point of credit to His Majesty's arms, and glory to those brave officers and men who have so nobly achieved it, as any of the kind ever performed." A fine line engraving is just completed, by James Stuart, of Edinburgh, from the admired picture by William Allan, of the Death of Archbishop Sharp; and now ready for delivery. Published by Messrs. Hurst and Robinson. THE TEMPTING PRESENT. gratify us from his various studies, we shall hail his return with pleasure. This print, is another successful experiment of mezzotinto engraving on steel, wherein Mr. Say, has, with the same felicity as in the last, copied the character, general effect, and touch of his prototype, with the most exact imi|| tation. Mr. J. Burnet, is proceeding upon a line engraving, from a picture by himself, of a very pleasing subject from Burns. The Cotter's Saturday Night. The size twelve inches by about eight inches and half. We are informed, that it is his intention to paint a series of these domestic compositions from the same poet, and to engrave them of an uniform size. Such a scheme we should think, could not fail of success. The cotter is met by his youngest son at the door, led by his sister-over the guard at the threshold, another is climbing to hail the sire's return. Within is seen the cotter's wife, busily engaged over the crackling hearth, || preparing his homely supper. He is accompanied by his son, a boy just old enough to go to field, bearing on his shoulder a spade and hoe. The scene is truly rural. The poultry are going to roost, and the rooks are winging their way to their airy dormitories. Every episode is congenial to the tranquility of "sober eve." This will be published by the same house. Two other preparatory etchings, we must not neglect to mention: The one by Burnet, from the celebrated picture fair to make a line engraving of some importance to the of READING A WILL, by the inimitable Wilkie, which bids collectors of prints. from Allan's picture of John Knox admonishing Mary The other, a masterly etching, in progress, by Burnet, Queen of Scots. These are also preparing for Messrs. Hurst and Robinson. There is also just issued, by the same publishers, an engraving in imitation of chalk, by F. C. Lewis, from a masterly sketch of the profile of the late Belzoni, made from the life by Mr. Brockeden, and a most characteristic likeness of that celebrated traveller. Little Red Riding Hood, by Sir Thomas Lawrence, is being engraved, by Mr. Lane, in the line manner, and promises to turn out a brilliant specimen of the art. One more line engraving we shall mention, which must end the present list of works preparing, and now publishing by this house, namely a print the same size as the original of COLOGNE ON THE RHINE, engraved by Goodall, from the splendid drawing by W. M. Turner, R. A. in the possession of T. Tomkison, Esq. This superb print, which is an honour to the English school, will be considered a valuable addenda to the portfolio, as we are informed that only two hundred and fifty impressions have been taken, and that the plate was then destroyed. WILSON THE LANDSCAPE PAINTER. A highly finished and most beautiful line engraving, the landscape by W. R. Smith, the figure by J. N. Robinson, from a small cabinet picture by Woodward, is also on the eve of publication, by Messrs. Hurst and Robinson. Mr. Woodward, a young artist, (the pupil of A. Cooper, R. A.) whose works we have noticed in a former number, has exhibited in this subject, a talent which promises to rival in truth, simplicity, clearness, and finished execution the best works of the Flemish or Dutch school. We do not remember to have seen a more captivating print. A servant boy on a poney, is the bearer of a brace of birds, and a basket of fruit-he has stopped his horse, and with his fingers on a tempting bunch of grapes, is deliberatingshall I-or shall I not. A terrier, not clearly underA highly finished and most intelligent portrait of our standing the cause of his delay, is looking up, as it were to favourite Wilson, is recently finished by Mr. William ask, why do you stop. The figures are well drawn, the Bond, in the dotted manner, which, as we are informed landscape is picturesque, and the whole truly English, by our correspondent, is to be prefixed to the life of the The engravers have done ample justice to the painter. painter, now preparing for publication. We infer from the Mr. Say, has completed, for Messrs. Hurst and Robin- size of the impression which we have seen, by favour of a son, the companion print to the Bandit, which we noticed friend, that the promised work by Mr. Wright, will be some time since. This is entitled The Wounded Brigand printed in quarto. This excellent specimen of Mr. Bond's Chief, painted at Rome, by C. L. Eastlake, our ingenious style of engraving, is rich and harmonious in effect, and countryman, whose works are spreading his reputation to certainly one of the most interesting portraits, abstracted various parts of Europe, as well as in his native country. of our regard for the memory of its ill-fated prototype, that The masterly spirit, identity of character, and originality we have seen of late. He is seated in his arm chair, before of feeling, which this artist has displayed, in the few pic-his easel, with his palette on his thumb, and grasping those tures which we have seen of his hand, excites our curiosity identical tools, with which he helped to raise so lasting a to know more of his intelligent style of composition in his inonument to that genius, which, alas! laboured like many larger works. We have been informed that he is inde- another,-less for its own benefit than that of posterity. fatigable in the pursuits of his art, and expecting much to We thank our correspondent for recommending us to || obtain a sight of this most interesting print. Surely a The vast mass of precipitous rock on the opposite shore, we series of portraits of the principal artists of the English || might venture to pronounce, from appearance, to he geoschool, (we do not include the living members) engraved logically correct, à circumstance of no small import, in on the same scale, and in a similar style, would be highly topographical representation. The sky of this subject is acceptable to the world of taste, and would remunerate the quite luminous. liberal speculator, who would engage in such a plan. These might be accompanied by biographical sketches, to which || we would willingly contribute our share. We have, since writing the above, been informed that this portrait was originally painted by Raphael Mengs, from Wilson, whilst studying at Rome. That it was brought by him to England, and injudiciously, perhaps, exhibited by Wilson as a picture superior in merit to the works of Reynolds. To this circumstance, then, possibly,|| may be attributed the origin of that mutual want of cordiality which was invariably noticed when these two great English painters met. The original picture is in the collection of Sir Watkins Williams Wynne. The engraving has been made from a very faithful copy taken many years since, by Mr. Taylor, still living and in health, we rejoice to say; and now that Mr. Nollekins is no more, we believe, the oldest surviving member of that British school, which was founded by Hogarth and other worthies, and held in St. Martin's-lane. VIEWS ON THE RHINE IN BELGIUM AND HOLLAND, FROM Our tribute of praise is never unsparingly bestowed on The other views contribute to the diversity of the work, which so far has deservedly met the approbation of the topographical collector. We shall continue to notice it in its progress, and trusting that each number will be received with new interest, and that each will still be superior to the last, we heartily wish the publication success. The engravers, Messrs. Goodall, Byrne, Wallis, Varall, and Edwards, have preserved an uniformity of style in the plates, and appear to have done justice to the drawings. The parts are beautifully printed, and issued in a style of elegance very creditable to the spirit and taste of the publisher. The only existing list of the members of this memorable institution, the precursor of the Royal Academy, is printed in the Somerset House Gazette, No. III., for October 25, 1823. This curious document owed its accuracy to the assistance of Mr. Taylor, who kindly completed our imperfect catalogue. REVIEWS. Noontide Leisure; or Sketches in Summer, outlines from DR. DRAKE is a veteran in the republic of letters, and has done the state some service." This alone should rescue him from the harshness of criticism, even were there any cause why criticism should be harsh. He is a pleasant agreeable writer, and his books have always had a certain sort of popularity. They merits of the author as we felt. This second part we think are not indeed very profound, and are rarely "sicklied superior to that, as more interesting in the choice of sub-o'er with the pale cast of thought," but they maintain ject, and more artistical in composition and effect. a respectable rank in the files of literature. notice of two Suffolk poets, comprise the whole of the contents. They are all written in the loose style peculiar to the author, and are such essays as a good natured person of decent acquirements, and literary habits, would be likely to weave out between sleeping and waking, in a warm summer's day-patulæ recubans sub tegmine fagi. And this we take it is about the summit of Dr. Drake's ambition. The view of RHEINSTEIN, is romantic and characteristic, the lights are sparkling, and the effect as intended, repreThe present publication of Dr. Drake is less miscelsents the scene under the influence of a stormy day. The laneous in its character than most of its predecessors. engraver, Mr. Goodall, has done justice to the subject. A Tale of the Days of Shakspeare-some critical obThe great square of TOURNEY, bears evidence of topo-servations on a Version of De Lille's Jardins-and a graphical correctness. There is a want of keeping, however, in this scene, the ground being generally too dark, which causes the long range of buildings to relieve too suddenly as a continued mass of light. The three properties of chiaro scuro, light, dark, and middle tint, should ever be kept in mind, when arranging the effect of a picture. The diffusing of these in their just ratio, is an acknowledged difficulty even with professors; amateurs, then, should particularly bend their attention to the study of this indispensable feature of composition; for the utmost efforts of the engraver cannot supply the deficiencies of light and shadow. We do not pretend to know what the practice of this gentleman may be, when studying from nature, but we are assured of this, that the professional artist is as carefully intent to mark the effect of a scene on the spot, as he is particular in identifying the outline; and, as we have observed before, one day's study of colour, light, and shadow thus locally obtained, is more improving than months devoted to similar studies in the closet. THE LURLEY BERG. Another magnificent scene, taken from a commanding site, affords a bold and imposing subject for a picture. This is treated with greater breadth, is delicately engraved, and adds much to the interest of this second part. The introductory essay is a collection of common places on the beauty of noontide retirement, and its tendency to excite the fancy. These common place sentiments are prettily variegated by quotations from all such poets as have praised directly or indirectly the gratefulness of shady solitudes at the hour of noon. The whole is pleasant reading enough for young ladies and ancient gentlemen, and all other followers of "the feeble." Montchensey, or a tale of the days of Shakspeare, "is of higher pretensions, and contains some very fair writing." It is the story of a Mr. Montchensey, who travelling near Stratford on Avon, meets with an accident which brings him acquainted with Shakspeare and his family. The descriptions are all founded on historical documents, and are not without interest. This is the picture of New-place, the residence of the bard: street. his songs, to the infinite delight of the bard and his family. She writes thus of the family : "Here were Mrs. Shakspeare and her two daughters; the former, who is, I understand, nearly eight years older than her husband, and was married to him when he was but eighteen, appears to be approaching towards sixty; "New-Place, then, originally built, I understand, in and, though thus far advanced in life, still retains some the reign of Henry the Seventh, owes its modern and hand-strong traces of having once been eminently beautiful. She some appearance to its present possessor, who, though he was simply but becomingly dressed in a French hood, and purchased it more than twenty years ago, has only very moderately sized ruff, a gown of light grey silk, with a black fately, from his engagements in London, been able to reside velvet cape slightly embroidered with bugelles, had bracein it. It is, with the exception of the College, a mansion lets on her arms, and an ivory-handled fan of ostrich feabelonging to a family of the name of Combe, the best and thers in her hand. My attention, however, was almost largest house in Stratford, and is situated in the principal instantly attracted to the eldest daughter, Mrs. Hall, whose features strongly resemble those of her father; and though not regularly handsome, possess a degree of combined sweetness and intelligence which cannot but prepossess every individual in her favour. A smile of the most bewitching expression played upon her lips as I entered the room, and gave the utmost effect to a style of dress singularly tasteful and elegant. A caul or net of silver thread was thrown over her glossy tresses, and on this were obliquely placed several artificial seed-pods, which were represented open, with rows of pearls for seeds. An open rufi of web-like lawn, a necklace of pearls, and a gown of fawn-coloured muslin, over which was worn a kirtle or mantle of dark brown satin, bordered with lace, will complete the portrait of my favourite Susanna; especially when I add, that she inherits a portion of her father's and full, but highly lovely and graceful; and, as to age, not much, I should imagine, beyond the period of thirty. A porch, supported by two pillars, on a base of three steps, and having its architrave, as masons term this part of a building, decorated with the poet's arms, conducts you to the house, which is now distinguished from most in the town by being fronted entirely of brick, instead of brick and timber, its former state, and possessing the additional ornament of stone coigns. The windows, which are light and large, and what builders call bays in respect of form, are five in number, one over the porch. and two, ranging one above the other, on each side of it; whilst surmounting the cornice, and occupying the greater part of the front roof, are three gables, or triangular uprights, with a window in each.'" Montchensey in a letter to a friend, thus pourtrays the wit and humour, that, in her person, she is somewhat tall poet himself: 66 Conceive, then, my dear Charles, for I know thou art an admirer, almost as ardent as myself, of the author of Hamlet and Macbeth, conceive the door of this interesting little study opening, and Shakspeare coming forward with a smile of the most fascinating good humour, to congratulate your friend on his recovery. There was, indeed, an expression of so much sweetness and benignity in his features, that I thought I had never beheld a more interesting countenance. You will tell me this was partly owing to irresistible prepossession in his favour; it may have been so; but I will endeavour to be more particular. He appeared to me in height about the middle size, not corpulent, but rather full in his person, which, notwithstanding he is in his fifty-second year, may be still justly termed handsome, as well as correctly and finely formed. His forehead high and unusually ample in its dimensions, is nobly expanded, and his hair, which is thinly scattered on the top of his head, clusters thickly about his temples and neck, and is of a beautiful auburn colour. His eyes, in a most remarkable degree, pleasing in their expression, yet, at the same time, profoundly indicatory of the mighty mind within, are of a light and lively bazel, with brows that form nearly a complete arch. To this description, if I add the undulating outline of the nose, the dimpled expression of the cheeks, the perfect symmetry of the mouth, and the open sweetness of the lips, you may form to yourself a pretty accurate picture of the bard, more especially when I further remark, that the contour of his face is oval, the upper lip surmounted by a mustachio, with the extremities slightly elevated, and the chin covered by a pointed beard. It may be necessary, also, in order to render my portrait more striking, to say something of his dress, which, at this morning's interview, consisted of a loose black gown, or tabard, without sleeves, a rich doublet of scarlet cloth, hose of dark grey, and boots or buskins of russet-coloured leather." His daughter Helen Montchensey is a fine, poetryloving girl-who quotes Shakspeare's plays, and sings and who is about to be married to a gentleman of this place "Judith, the younger by a year or two, I am informed, of the name of Quiney, wore her hair, according to the custom of our sisterhood, uncovered, knotted, and raised high fitted close to the body, with cut sleeves, and with a very at the forehead. She bad on a gown of Lincoln-green, long and pointed bodice. Her ruff, which was large, and she exhibited a slender chain of gold, pendant from her stiffened with straw-coloured starch, was curiously plaited; neck; had on a petticoat of white taflety, wrought with vine leaves round the bottom, and wore perfumed gloves. disposition than Mrs. Hall, and less pleasing and intellecIn her stature she is rather short, more reserved in her tual in her countenance.'"" After some weeks sojourn at Stratford, which is filled with descriptions of the customs of the times, and anecdotes of the place, all serving to illustrate the character and poetry of Shakspeare, the visitors return to their seat in Derbyshire, whither the poet soon after follows them. There is a romantic story of Helen's love and her lover, introduced, in which the poet plays a principal part, and the whole tale ends with their happiness and his death. The essays on De Lille are chiefly intended to draw from obscurity, an anonymous version of that author's poem les Jardins. From the specimen given by Dr. Drake, the translation seems to be fairly enough executed. Dr. D. has enriched his notice with remarks on Gardening, and with some interesting anecdotes and illustrations of the original poem. The remaining essays in the volume, are occupied with critical and biographical notices of two "once celebrated" poets, of Hadleigh, in Suffolk.-Dr. Alabaster, and Dr. Beaumont. The first lived between 1567 and 1640, and wrote a good deal on philology, "That storm blown o'er, the Spring march'd forth array'd Ten thousand birds, which, perch'd on every tree, Canto iv. We can only repeat what we before observed, that Dr. Drake's volumes are good specimens of what is called light reading. They are fit for the summer season, just about the hour of sunset, with tea and slippers. ry, but these are the words of a famous high Dutch critic, which have been adopted by one of his followers in this country. The "Devil's Elixir," undoubtedly possesses this requisite of popularity, though we much question whether it will stand the test of experiment. One is surprised to find that so many German authors still persist in their old absurdities. In the infancy of their literature they had a right to be childish, tasteless, and irrational, and they exercised this privilege to the utmost extent. With the growth of the national intellect, and the experience of years, a better taste was || acquired, and the genius of the country soared into a healthier atmosphere, unincumbered with the grossness and absurdity which clung about its earlier efforts. Some living writers, however, seem anxious to recur to the first ages of their literature, and to copy all its faults, with very little of its excellence. They will be imaginative forsooth, as though the imagination were necessarily confined to an intercourse with extravagance and nonsense. Mr. Hoffman, judging from the present volumes, belongs to this class. We confess to an entire ignorance of all his other works, and the Devil's Elixir" does not fill us with much anxiety to make acquaintance with them. Yet we are told by the translator, that "it has enjoyed very great popularity all over Germany." This does not all surprise us, considering the qualifications necessary to popularity in that country. It is a story of diablerie, and of course full of impossible adventures, and extravagant sentiments. The hero, Franciscus, is born under miraculous circumstances, at a convent in Prussia, and is afterwards removed to a Cistertian monastery, where he is brought up as a probationer for the monkish life. His boyhood is marked by a great many visionary and mysterious the imagination, and keep down the more useful qualiincidents, which press on the undue developement of ties of prudence and judgment. In proper time he becomes a monk, and assumes the conventual name) of Medardus. To his care are committed the relics of the couvent, and amongst others, "a small square box," which contains the Devil's Elixir. Its history is The Devil's Elixir. From the German of E. T. A. Hoff- thus given :— man. London: T. Cadell, 2 vols, 1824. THE name of Mr. Hoffman is utterly unknown in this country except to professed students of German literature. To all others his works have been "a sealed book;" and judging from the specimen furnished by the present translation, there will not be any violent aspirations in the public mind to tear away the bars and bolts which have hitherto kept his intellectual labours out of our country. Mr. Hoffman may be a very original writer, he certainly is very fantastic and unintelligible-not that this should be any particular objection with genuine admirers of German genius, who contend that "no production of mind can be either popular or lasting, unless it is wholly unintelligible to the reflective understanding." We quote from memo "Herein, Brother Medardus,' said he, is contained the most wonderful and mysterious relic of which our convent is possessed. As long as I have been resident here, no one but the prior and myself has had this box in his hands. Even the other brethren (not to speak of strangers) are unaware of its existence. For my own part I cannot even touch this casket without an inward shuddering; for rather, some living demon, locked up within it, which, it seems to me as if there were some malignant spell, or were the bonds broken by which this evil principle is now confined, would bring destruction on all who came within its accursed range. 666 That which is therein contained is known to have been derived immediately from the Arch-Fiend, at the time when he was still allowed visibly, and in personal shape, to contend against the weal of mankind.' "I looked at Brother Cyrillus with the greatest astonishment; but without leaving me time to answer, he went on. "I shall abstain, Brother Medardus, from offering you any opinion of my own on this mysterious affair, but merely relate to you faithfully what our documents say upon the subject. You will find the papers in that press, and can read them afterwards at your leisure. "The life of St. Anthony is already well known to you. You are aware, that in order to be completely withdrawn from the distractions of the world, he went out into the desert, and there devoted himself to the severest penetential exercises. The Devil of course followed him, and came often in his way, in order to disturb him in his pious contemplations. "One evening it happened accordingly, that St. Anthony was returning home, and had arrived near his cell, when he perceived a dark figure approaching him rapidly along the heath. As his visitant came nearer, he observed with suprise, through the holes in a torn mantle worn by the stranger, the long necks of oddly-shaped bottles, which || of course produced an effect the most extraordinary and grotesque. It was the Devil, who, in this absurd masquerade, smiled on him ironically, and inquired if he would not choose to taste of the Elixir which he carried in these bottles? At this insolence, St. Anthony was not even incensed, but remained perfectly calm; for the enemy having now become powerless and contemptible, was no longer in a condition to venture a real combat, but must confine himself to scornful words. "The Saint, however, inquired for what reason he carried about so many bottles in that unheard-of manner. "For this very reason,' said the Devil, that people may be induced to ask me the question; for as soon as any mortal meets with me, he looks on me with astonishment, makes the same inquiry that you have done, and, in the next place, cannot forbear desiring to taste, and try what sort of elixirs I am possessed of. Among so many bottles, if he finds one which suits his taste, and drinks it out, and becomes drunk, he is then irrecoverably mine, and belongs to me and my kingdom for ever.' "So far the story is the same in all legends, though some of them add, that, according to the Devil's confession, if two individuals should drink out of the same flask, they would henceforth become addicted to the same crimes, possessing a wonderful reciprocity of thoughts and feelings, yet mutually and unconsciously acting for the destruction of each other. By our own manuscripts it is narrated farther, that when the Devil went from thence, he left some of his flasks on the ground, which St. Anthony directly took with him into his cave, fearing that they might fall into the way of accidental travellers, or even deceive some of his own pupils, who came to visit him in that retirement. By chance, so we are also told, St. Anthony once opened one of these bottles, out of which there arose directly a strange and stupifying vapour, whereupon all sorts of hideous apparitions and spectral phantoms from hell had environed the Saint, in order to terrify and delude him. Above all, too, there were forms of women, who sought to entice him into shameless indecencies. These altogether tormented him, until, by constant prayer, and severe penitential exercises he had driven them again out of the field. "In this very box there is now deposited a bottle of that kind, saved from the relics of St. Anthony; and the documents thereto relating, are so precise and complete, that the fact of its having been derived from the Saint is hardly to be doubted.'” In the course of time the unlawful curiosity of Medardus impels him to taste the fatal Elixir, and the consequences are most disastrous : "It seemed immediately as if fire streamed through all my veins, and filled me with a sensation of indescribable delight! I drank once more, (but sparingly,) and the raptures of a new and glorious life began at once to dawn on my perception. In haste, as if from dread of being overlooked, I locked up the empty box into the cabinet, and rapidly fled with the inestimable treasure into my cell, where I placed it carefully in my secretaire. "At that moment, while turning over my papers, the identical small key fell into my hand, which formerly, in order to escape from temptation, I had separated from the rest; and yet, notwithstanding my precaution, I had found, both on this occasion, and at the time when the strangers were with me, the means of unlocking the cabinet! I examined my bunch of keys, and found among them one strangely shaped and unknown, with which I had now, and without, in my distraction, remarking it, made my way to the relic. "Hereupon I shuddered involuntarily; but my terror soon wore away. As if on the transparent medium of a phantasmagorie, one bright and smiling image chased another before the mind's eye-before that mind, which now, for the first time, seemed to be awoke from deep sleep; yet the visions of my youth awoke not-I thought not of the past; but, under the feverish excitement of newly acquired energy, dwelt only (if thought could be said to dwell where all was restless confusion) on the brilliant prospects which awaited me for the future. It was ambition that possessed me. I should have once more the power of obtaining that noblest of earthly supremacies, an empire over the minds of others! "I had no sleep nor rest through the night, but eagerly waited till the brightness of the next morning beamed through the high window into my cell, when I hastened down into the monastery gardens to bask in the warm splendour of the rising sun, which now ascended fieryly, and glowing red from behind the mountains." His brother monks begin to suspect something improper in his conduct, and regard him with distrust. It is finally resolved that he shall quit the convent, and be sent into honourable exile as an agent of the establishment at Rome. Previous to this event he is haunted in his dreams by the vision of a beautiful female, who exercises great supernatural power over him. At length he sets out for Rome, and his journey is full of curious adventures. This is the first, and out of it spring all the others : "The dark pine-tree woods became always more and more dense, and the ground more steep and uneven. Suddenly I heard near me a rustling in the thickets, and then a horse neighed aloud, which was there bound to a tree. I wards, till, almost petrified with terror, I suddenly found advanced some steps farther, as the path guided me onmyself on the verge of a tremendous precipice, beyond which the river, which I have already mentioned, was thundering and foaming at an immeasurable distance below. of rock which jutted over the chasm, what appeared to me "With astonishment, too, I beheld, on a projecting point the figure of a man. At first, I suspected some new delusion; but, recovering in some degree from my fear, I venthe very outermost point of the rocky cliff. His sabre, his tured nearer, and perceived a young man in uniform, on hat, with a high plume of feathers, and a portefeuille, lay beside him;-with half his body hanging over the abyss, he seemed to be asleep, and always to sink down lower and lower! His fall was inevitable! "I ventured nearer. Seizing him with one hand, and endeavouring to pull him back, I shouted aloud, For God's sake, Sir, awake! For Heaven's sake, beware!'-I said no more: for, at that moment, starting from his sleep, and at the same moment losing his equilibrium, he fell down into the cataract! |