has recently been made by M. Cadet, apothecary in ordinary to the French imperial household, from which it appears that the berries contain mucilage in abundance, much gallic acid, a resin, a concrete essential oil, some albumen, and a volatile aromatic principle. To these may be added such as are found in most vegetables, viz. lime, potash, charcoal, iron, &c. Roasting developes the soluble principles; but it ought to be moderated, if it be wished to preserve the aroma, and not decompose the acid, the gum and the resin. Mocha Coffee is of all kinds, the most aromatic and resinous. M. Cadet advises that coffee be neither roasted nor infused till the day it is intended to be drunk.

SCOTTISH REVIEW.

I. Queenhoo-Hall, a Romance; and Ancient Times, a Drama. By the late Joseph Strutt, Author of Rural Sports and Pastimes of the People of England. 4 vols. 12mo. 18s. Murray, London. Constable and Co. Edinburgh.

THE object of this romance is to

exhibit, under an amusing and popular form, a view of English domestic manners, as they existed in the reign of Henry VI., a period, it is observed, during which they are very little known. For the due execution of such an undertaking, two qualifications were necessary, which are not often found united. The writer must first possess a perfect knowledge of the subject which he thus undertakes to illustrate, that is, of the customs, dress, amusements, and other particulars of the times in which he places his narrative. Few who are acquainted with the previous performances of Mr Strutt in this department of antiquarian information, will be disposed to question his capacity of exhibiting a view, as accurate as can now be gi

ven, of what our ancestors were at that remote era. The next qualification consists in the capacity of rendering this representation, not correct only, but also agreeable; of giving interest to the narrative, and animation to the dialogue. Without this, it is evident that a mere abstract description would be quite as acceptable. Here we suspect our author will not be found quite so successful; his powers of imagination are not certainly of the first order; yet they are not so far deficient as to produce an absolute failure in his object. They are such, as to render this, upon the whole, an amusing publication. There is little, indeed, in the general story, which serves merely as a thread to connect together a number of detached episodes. Many of these, however, possess considerable interest. The style is, in ge neral, rather heavy, and loaded with common place; but displays of genius sometimes break forth. The dialogue, in particular, is conducted with spirit, and shews considerable observation of mankind. The intentions of the author seem to be throughout excellent. The description of the ceremonies of May, which opens the work, is curious. The tale of Margery and the witch, gives an amusing view of village manners.

Emma's tale shews some tragic powers. Ingold's story is rather insipid. The wanton monks shew some humour, though they are a copy, not improved, from the excellent old Scottish ballad, of " the Monk and the Miller's Wife." Gregory's story is good; and the conclusion of the whole is animated and interesting.

As a specimen of the humourous and familiar style of our author, we shall give the following description of the exploits of a juggler, which is selected merely because its length is accommodated to our limits.

the Crown, found Robin Tosspot the Our jovial company, being come to butcher's man, Jack the basket-maker of Wellwyn, and some other lusty

drinkers,

erinkers, already assembled there; and in the midst of the room sat Bernard the blind bagpiper of Hartford, who was playing a fit of music; and when he had done, Gillys the juggler started up and said," By the bones, my masters, but if you would see a sight well worth the guerdon, I am the man who can quit you. Would you see any legerdemain or cleanly conveyance, called by the learned clerks deceptio visus; because, my masters, if your eyes are not as quick as my hands, I shall put the changeling upon you.-There," added he, throwing a crab-apple upon the table, "what call you that, I prithee?" "Out upon thee for a lozel!" said Tosspot; "dost think we be such seely lobs as not to know a crab?"

To be sure; why not?" replied the juggler; wiser men than you have been deceived. Look ye, my masters, all fair play, and above board,-I will shew you, for a tester, more craft, and as cleanly cast, as John Rikell the king's tregetour will for two angels of gold.You see, I cover this crab with this cup of latren; and you," addressing himself to Tosspot, clap your hand upon it, and hold it down, for fear the apple should be gone."-Robin readily obeyed, looking slily at his comrades; and the juggler continued his harangue :"Hark ye, my masters, if my familiar deceive me not, I will send this poor John a-nutting on holy-rood day to meet the foul fiend."

64

"Ay marry," cried Robin," you talk main well, master juggler; but I ben't to be cousened so easily as you think for."

"Certainly not, said Gilly's ;-" for here is the crab, my masters," holding it up in the sight of the company :

"Then let the sot

Uncover the pot,

And see what a dainty fine apple he's got."

"For all your bantering," said Robin, "I have another erab under the cup, I trow:"-but, raising it from the table, there appeared, to the great astonishment of the spectators, in place of the apple, a young howlet.

"I thought how it would be, my masters," quoth the juggler; "Birds of a feather flock together :-and the woodcock is fairly springed."

Robin looked very foolish, and his
Oct. 1808.

comrades burst into a roar of laughter;

the owl, being frightened by the noise flew from the table, and perched upon one of the shelves.

"You shall now see," said Gillys, "that I can readily bring my hawk to "the lure ;"-when, imitating the hooting of an owl, the bird flew down to him, and he put it into a pouch which hung by his side. The clowns were wonderfully delighted with this performance; but Tib the innkeeper's wife, believing the owl to be in reality an evil spirit, counted her beads, and crossed herself for security's sake.

"And now, my good masters," continued the juggler, clapping a box upon the table, “I have here a jack-inthe-box, the greatest curiosity ever seen in this or any other country. This wonderful motion has travelled farther than Noah's ark.-It was exhibited, with unspeakable applause, to Mahound, Soldan of Constantinople, when he dined with the Emperor Sigismund, at the palace of the Seneschal of Nineveh. where the Dolphin of France tilted with the Prince of Fess for the fair Sabrina, daughter to the Queen of Bohemia. The King of Spain preferred it to all the tricks set forth by ten select companies of minstrels. All the crowned heads in Europe speak highly of its merit; and our own gracious Sovereign was so delighted with it, that he commanded me to play it over five times, and gave ten marks for my reward; and his excellency the Protector, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, gave me two angels of gold from his own private purse."

So saying, he handed his bonnet round among the rustics, to collect their donations; but finding they did not communicate very liberally, he added; "Maister John Rikell, the king's tregetour, offered me fifty pounds in gold, and a place next to himself in his company, for this admirable motion; but I warrant ye, my masters, I refused him, and would have refused him had he offered twice as much; for the whole world cannot produce its fellow. Why should you, then, by withholding a few pence, deprive yourselves of a sight you never may have another opportunity of seeing?"

He then put his bonnet about a second time; and when he had collected all the money together that he could,

he

he opened the box, and produced the puppet, dressed like a Moorish lady. Bernard played a tune appropriated to the purpose upon the juggler's vielle, and Gillys caused the figure to perform all the motions of a dance in such a manner as surprised his spectators, who expressed their satisfaction by reiterated applauses. VOL. I. p. 69. The following will afford a specimen of his tragic style. It is in the story of Lady Emma, who, in travelling with her brother, is benighted near a solitary inn, where they find themselves under the necessity of accepting a night's accommodation. After supper, she says,

Having embraced my dear brother, we parted from each other; I following the daughter, and he the father, to our chambers. Though I had not a distant thought, that the host or hostess had formed any malevolent designs against us, yet I parted from Henry with the greatest reluctance; and pardon me, ladies," said she, while she heaved a deep sigh, and wiped away the tears that started from her eyes, "little did I think that I should never, never see my dearest Henry any more!-But I forget myself, and my feelings lead me to foretel the story of my misfortunes. The tempest still continued-the rain beat against the casement of my chamber-and the furious gusts of wind, to which it was exposed, kept it in constant agitation. The horrors of the night added not a little to the uneasiness of my mind. The inn-keeper's daughter assisted me to undress, and, in her way, was complaisant and obliging; but she was very fearful of the thunder, and was constantly calling upon Saint Agnes, repeating her ave-maries, or uttering some ejaculations from her Pri

time after, I closed my eyes in a kind of melancholy stupor, and, half asleep half awake, a thousand dreadful imag nations crowded into my mind.-My garments appeared to be besoiled with blood. I then thought that I was walking in a strange place, where a heap of dead bodies obstructed my passage. I was then labouring to ascend steep rocks made the spectator of pompous funerals. and precipices without assistance, or At last, however, my dear brother ap peared to me standing by my bed-side covered with wounds, and his countenance overspread with a ghastly paleness. He reached out his hand, and laid hold of mine,-his hand was as cold as ice: he then looked wishfully at me and, in a hollow tone of voice, said, Sis, ter, remember me! The coldness of the hand, the solemnity of the address, had such an effect upon my mind, that I started upright in the bed, confused and affrightened to such a degree, that it was a long time before I could suffici ently recollect myself, or be convinced that these dreadful appearances were not the effects of reality. The thunder had subsided, but the wind and the rain were not the least abated: the lamp, by some means, was extinguished, and we were in total darkness. While I was sitting upright in the bed, I thought during an interval of tempest, that I heard a confused rumbling in an adjacent chamber, and a faint cry of murder. Oh, blessed Lady," cried I, clasping my hands together," what horrid exclamation is that!" A sudden gust of wind at this moment shook the casement so furiously, that I expected it would have been blown in upon us. When the turbulence of the storm became less violent, I listened with the greatest attention, but did not hear the rumbling noise within any more, nor repetition of the fearful cry: I then endeavoured to per. suade myself, that the whole was merely the effect of my bewildered imagina tion. Close by my bedside, the innkeeper's daughter slept soundly; not being disturbed either by my restlessness, or the violent rattling of the window. I was several times tempted to awaken her; but then again I considered that it would not answer any good purpose; and for that reason I left her to her repose. All the efforts, however, that I made to tranquillize my mind

were