quiere?' and the whisking of his burning rope's end in fiery circles-the low rushing sound of many feet and voices, are all so many proofs of the Prado being in its pride and strength! "Here too is the rendezvous of unhappy lovers, of such as are considered too danger ous, or of dubious funds and intentions, or of mar-alls in the way of a match already determined upon by long-headed parents, and who "Acquaintances meet and stop in little are consequently denied the privilege of visgroups to chat about the ball or tertulia of the iting at the houses of the ladies, at least until night before. The ladies kiss one another's the marriage ceremony be over. Here she cheeks in the most affectionate manner. searches, with eyes swoln with weeping, her 'Adios! Juanita! How do you do? Have chosen nobio. Here they can steal a long look you slept after the ball? Jesus! I could not at each other, from under the fan or behind waltz at all with that horrid pesado, who per- the folds of the capa, despite the watchful secuted me the whole night.' 'Abour! Joa-attendance of the family. But should such quina! you already know that I love you!' illicit glances be discovered, the poor girl Tell me, Juanita, did you ever see such a may bid a long farewell to the pleasures of bonnet as she wears? There she sails along, the Prado, and even to the balcony of her so proud of it! It does not at all become chamber, should it look upon the street.* her. If she thinks she looks like a Francesa, I can tell her she is very much mistaken.'Paquita! for God's sake look at that fat Dolores, strutting about in a basquina. Vamos! Some people are either blind or mad. She has no shape at all, the same every where. Ave Maria! look, look at her foot! Go to I would rather take the air outside the gate of Toledo all my life, than show such a piece of furniture, for all the world like a butifará* from Mallorca. But my aunt is bellowing to me. Good bye, Pichoncita, (little pigeon,) adieu!' This charitable flower-knot is again mingled with the mass. 66 "A frulling sound, like the chattering of birds in a cage, reigns in every direction, produced by the tremulous shake, and sudden opening and shutting, of innumerable fans of all colors and sizes, so many eloquent tongues speaking an intelligible language to conscious observers. Even as flowers are the 'language of love' in the East, there is nothing in the soft science which may not be explained by a Spanish lady with her fan. Jealousy may pry and peer in vain, under the very nose of the greatest Bluebeard of a husband; questions are asked and answers given, full and explicit, which he cannot intercept.† "Hundreds of light supple forms keep up their graceful elastic step for two and three hours together, regardless alike of the dust and heat, and shoes a great deal too tight, even for their diminutive feet-proving that vanity suffers no pain. Que pie tan mono ! Que chiquitito! (what a lovely foot! what a little bit of a thing!) whispered by a cavalier as he passes, more than repays their cramps and agony. A gentle flutter of the fan, an eye rolled languidly his way, is the 'guerdon' of so much good taste. "In the meanwhile, other sights and other scenes are passing on the carriage drive;an uninterrupted file of vehicles of all descriptions, of coaches, britskas, phaetons, cabriolets, gigs, and horsemen, moving at a processional pace in two lines up and down the whole length of the Prado. The curious in such matters might trace the infancy and progress of carriage-building in the various and astounding models rolling before his eyes. The old Spanish berlina, broad and high of roof, tapering towards the bottom, swinging between four enormous leather springs running under the body of the carriage, drawn by a solemn well-fed pair of machos, (mules,) with close-shaved backs, tails, and ears, covered with antique trap* "A good legitimate butifará from Mallorca, with the animals back behind, while the front pings among which the saddle, almost level (however humiliating the comparison of a Lechu- rises boldly into a peak, higher, at least, by gina's foot to it may be considered,) is worthy of half a foot than the seat, is particularly worthe greatest consideration as an eatable, and standard ingredient of an orthodox 'puchero. It has thy of notice; a rusty stirrup-iron makes its some relationship with the English black hog's appearance from beneath a heavy skirt, just pudding; but is six times the size, composed of large enough to admit the toe of the postilthat unclean animal's blood, and seasoned with lion, who, placed on this lofty eminence, sundry dainty ingredients. A thorough-bred son guides his mules, some with bells, some withof the Balearic islands will make nothing of de-out. This poor man, in his glazed cockedvouring a large trencher of it, as a whet before commencing more serious operations." ish woman of her fan and white handkerchief, (whether a flag of truce or emblem of innocence in her hand,) and she loses her self-possession, and half her fascination. She is, if young, a fairy without her wand; if old, a witch without her broomstick." "When Addison imagined his 'fan exercise' for ladies, he must have had an idea of the alarming perfection to which this light arm is carried in Spain. It is the inseparable companion of the little girl from three years of age to fourteen, when, from a handy plaything, she turns it into a formidable offensive and defensive weapon, giving a "If Spain be the country in the world where trembling swain an extatic 'yes! or crushing a matrimony meets with least obstacles, in it also presuming suitor with an irrevocable 'no' It may be found cases where the friends and parents would be endless, as well as impossible, to attempt of the young lady are quite as obliging and worldly to describe the intermediate degrees of hope and wise as they are in other countries. I might men. fear, despair or passion, expressed by the spreading tion many instances in corroboration of the obserand furling of its painted wings. Deprive a Span-vation in the text." hat and iron-bound gaiters, obliged to follow checked by national feelings and sympathies. implicitly the movements of his cattle, is But the laudable preference for this noble pitched fore and aft, in so strange a fashion, and beautiful costume is every day on the that, were it not for the proud cock of his toe wane; a short time will see the mantilla bain the stirrup, and his well-stretched knee, nished to the smaller and more remote towns one would imagine he was an alma en pena of the Peninsula.* (a soul in purgatory.) "Then comes the coche de collera,* rather more modern in its cut, but on the same system of springs; a low seat before the driver and zagal, with a team of seven mules, tackled together by a most intricate combination of long slender ropes running from the pole to the leaders, and looking, for all the world, as if they were running away from the carriage, instead of with it. "These turn-outs' are usually occupied by the families of snug abogados, roguish escribanos, or agentes de negocios; of clerks in the different public offices; and, now and then, by some proud, unbending hidalgo and his spouse, fresh from their province, who insist upon having things as they were, and, in their mind, ought to be; to the horror of the muchachas, who are almost ashamed to peep out of the antiquated loop-holes of such a vehicle. The muchachos, the sons, who prefer walking, endeavor to palliate the evil as much as possible, by being the first to quiz the family set-out with their companions. "Excepting some picturesque bombes and calessins, whose masters have nerve enough to parade abroad, the more modern equipages differ but little from those of other continental capitals, unless when an absent coachman forgets his cravat, or shows too much of his linen. The inmates of these fashionable equipages affect an easy loll as they pass in review the female pedestrians, criticising their dress and appearance; a species of compliment which the latter fail not to repay with usury. We may here remark, that fashion has latterly triumphed so much over taste, as to substitute, for the graceful mysterious mantilla, the staring French hat, with flowers and feathers. A very few years back, no lady, however high in station, would have hazarded appearing in public with a bonnet; for the spirit of novelty was then "This description of carriage, formerly the only one used by grandees and the rich nobility, and requiring a team of mules too numerous and expensive for more limited fortunes, is now in the hands of the calesseros, (coach proprietors,) who let carriages, or keep a stand in the streets of Madrid. They are well hung, though on rude and most antiquated principles, and commodious enough inside. The number of mules is seldom less than seven, which are harnessed in pairs, and the seventh as a leader. The arrangement of the pole, and the infinity of slender ropes diverging from this centre to the furthermost animal, is a matter quite beyond ordinary comprehension. The space occupied by seven mules thus tackled, measures, at least, fifty feet in length." "Very few carriages are built in Madrid for the fashionables. Besides the backwardness of this art in Spain, the prices are so high, that a French or German (query English?) carriage, including the duty, is cheaper, although infinitely better finished Spaniards are now beginning, however, to construct their own diligences, mails, &c., and have improved considerably of late years." "The space between the two strings of carriages is filled by equestrians of all classescivilians, military men, grandees, tricked out as Majos,† a few Lechuginos, mounted á la Inglesa-each adopting the pace that prudence or carelessness of his neck may suggest: others amuse themselves in conveying to and receiving telegraphic signals from some tender-hearted beauty on the prome nade. But none are so distinguished in kicking up a dust,' and haunting the 'ride,' as two young dukes, to the admiration of all young girls desirous of securing two such goodly prizes. "The same scene continues until lassitude, the approach of night, the theatre, and tertulias warn the promenaders that it is time to leave the Prado for another day. "The Madrilenians talk with rapture of the pleasures of the Prado during the fine evenings of summer; but the air is then so sultry, and so impregnated with an impalpable white dust, one of the scourges of Madrid, that, so far from yielding any enjoyment, a walk in the Prado becomes an absolute infliction. During the hottest season, the hour of rendezvous is not earlier than seven o'clock in the evening. The only way of being aristocratic and extravagant, and distinguished from the modest crowd, is, by laying out a few cuartos (at the rate of two for each) for four or five rush-bottomed chairs, out of the hundred marshalled for public accommodation, in treble rows along the wall, and bestowing your person upon them. Persons of economical habits (the large majority) prefer taking their seats for nothing, on the stone seats ranged at regular intervals on both sides of the saloon. This season may well be called the harvest of the aguadores, who ply their calling among the crowd, in opposition to the ambulatory establishments set up beneath the trees at the entrance of the Prado, where rows of little white classicalshaped vases of white porous earth, and * "All admirers of the simple and beautiful Spanish costume must observe, with regret, the decided preference given to the French fashions now-a-days. This vitiated taste is even gaining ground with the lower orders of society." + "Of late years, it is the fashion for young noblemen of the highest rank to parade the streets of Madrid on foot or horseback, tricked out in all the pageantry of the gay Andalusia. Would that they were as patriotic as their models in sundry more serious and indispensable points!" "This earthen vessel, commonly called Botico, has the peculiar, and, in a warm country, inestimable quality of preserving water or any liquid contained in it perfectly cool. It owes this advantage to its porous properties. The right sort are distinguished from the counterfeits by the interior partaking of a light-greenish hue. The manufacture of these forms a considerable branch of the commerce of Andujar, a small town in Andalusia, but too celebrated for the decree of the Duc d'Angoulême, and its violation, almost at the lines of tumblers filled with sparkling water, invite the passengers to slake their thirst with the same pure liquid, while his majesty drinks water from the fountain of Berro. The quantity of water consumed by a Spanish crowd is incredible; except, perhaps, some stubborn Arragonese, the lowest classes even, prefer it to wine in warm weather. During the French occupation, cafés and restaurants were established in the Tivoli gardens, but they pined away on the departure of their mercurial customers, and have long since been shut up. When a caballero now wishes to offer an obsequio or fineza to ladies of his predilection, he is obliged to send to the café Santa Catalina, or de Solis, for ices and lemonade, con sus correspondientes bischochos, with its accompanying cakes. This piece of extravagance, however, is but seldom committed. Few young aspirants for female applause but have had to repent their rashness in asking ladies to step into Solis, and refrescar* on their way home. "When the bustle of the crowd is past, or reduced to a fitful whispering sound, in those more silent hours when the moon looks abroad, and the air partakes of her fresh and calming influence, a summer night in the Prado is not without its charms. The hum of the city is heard-but at intervals and afar off, like the breathing of the sea upon the shore. The birds of night send down a solemn greeting from the dismantled walls of the palace of the Retiro, as a voice from the depths of the past, telling of ruin, and desolation, and human vicissitude. The busy animated 'crush' of an hour ago becomes a vast solitude, animated only by the shrill voice of the cigalas keeping vigil in the trees, and lulled by the dash of the fountains. Perchance, some fond couple, or solitary being come there to commune with himself, are seen gliding along the moonlit alleys, taking counsel from the night." same time, during the French invasion of twentythree. At nightfall these water-stands are illuminated, showing to advantage the rows of glasses and heaps of ascuvillos (sugar sponge;) chairs and benches are set near them, for the accommodation of thirsty loungers. These establishments, with their lamps and painted sign-boards, portraying fresh and abundant fountains, have a very peculiar and picturesque appearance." "It is a serious undertaking to invite a few female friends to repose, and slake their thirst, after a summer evening's stroll in the Prado. They are so plea sant, and chatty, and thirsty; and then one must fiddle with something in the shape of solids, cakes, biscuits, or what not. I have known military Lotharios of my acquaintance leave the half of their month's pay in the gripe of the waiters, for the pleasure of one snug evening. Still it must be said, that the ladies of Madrid are, by no means to be compared in franqueza (off-handedness) to their sisters of Malaga, not one of whom has any objection, or would make the least difficulty, in despatching dozens upon dozens of the little round plump inviting Malaga figs, not to mention ices, yemas, (yolk of eggs conserved,) and other pastimes. An ounce (three pounds five shillings,) is a mere trifle to put in one's pocket when gallantly inclined." EXTEMPORE LINES, ON MISS CATHERINE DOUGLAS PUTTING ON A HELMET. BY L. MACARTNEY MONTAGU. WHEN through her bright redundant curls, And when the warrior's helm doth throw Thus beauty still will beauty be, AN APOLOGY FOR PHRENOLOGY. THE brain hath been defined (not in Johnson) to be an autobiographical substance, writing its character on the skull in legible bumps and bosses. It seems strange that the professors of the curious art or science of accurately deciphering this hieroglyphic manuscript should have yet succeeded in making so few converts to their imposing doctrines. The vague physiognomical theories of Lavater found a vastly greater number of admirers; this, however, doubtless arose from the natural vanity of men: every conceited prig, to whom nature had assigned a scarlet button or squashed fig for a nose, fancied it a faultless model of the feature it was intended to represent. But when the startling doctrine is propounded, that the asinine qualifications of each person are in an inverse proportion to the size of his pate, the question becomes simply a matter of superficial inches, and the wight with an apple or a potatoe on his shoulders, cannot, by any stretch of imagination or vanity, convince the world or even himself of the magnitude of his cranium. This is the rock on which the science is doomed to split: for, as long as the phrenologists lay down any definite rule as to the essentials for intellectual power, so long will all those who fall without that rule continue to be the bitter opponents of their system. And who will not sympathize with the mortified feelings of those whose heads are all back? For my own part, I must confess that I scoffed largely at the science, until a phrenologist made me a zealous convert, by lauding my intellectual developement. I thereupon suddenly discovered how closely my powers and feelings corresponded with his flattering conjecture; and it accordingly occurred to me, to set forth a few arguments in defence of the system, and to propound some manifest advantages which must accrue therefrom to society at large: but whether my mode of cy; the perception of color darkened with handling the subject be necessarily calculat-one sombre monotonous hue, the organ of or ed to remove the doubts of the wavering, may itself be a matter of no small doubt. der in disorder, the faculty of music out of tune! For my own part, I verily believe, First it is to be observed that, beyond all that the inestimable endowment of "clearquestion, the skull, both in man and animals, headedness," depends entirely on the wellis the seat of knowledge, and the brain the marked division of each segment of the brain. cushion. All things are shaped to their pe- The only remaining important point to be culiar uses; and no other possible use can be demonstrated, is, perhaps, the most astounddevised for the brain-except, indeed, in the ing of all, to wit, that cæteris paribus, the case of nightingales, ortolans, and the like, power of each faculty depends upon the abwhose medulla forms an epicurean dish. The solute size of the corresponding portion of the argument, questionless, loses much of its brain. Nevertheless, this admits of concluforce, if applied to certain savage nations: sive proof. And here again we may refer to for, among the cannibals of the Caribbee isl- the evidence of common speech:-a longands, the human brain is esteemed a rarer headed fellow means a shrewd and knowing delicacy than dromedary's hump. But, again, person, who can see as far into a stone wall observe how in common language the exist- as any of his neighbors, and requireth but a ence of the mind is always impliedly referred hint to know how many blue beans it takes to the head. A stupid person is distinguish-to make up half a dozen; while a thick skull ed by the terms, Block-head, Wooden-headed is a term of reproach, it being an axiom famifellow, Num-skull, and similar compliment- liar to the vendors by false measure, that the ary appellations. Now this involuntary and thicker the vessel the smaller its capacity. instinctive reference is alone sufficient to es- Again, is it not a universal law of nature, that tablish the point. There is within us an un-size is the measure of power? This holds taught consciousness, independent of anato- true from the flea to the elephant-from the mical theory, and almost imperceptible to sprat to the whale. If you want a man to ourselves, of the proper function of each knock down your enemy with the greatest nerve, and muscle, and member: as in walk-facility, you will seek some broad-shouldered ing, sleeping, eating, drinking, we exert the proper muscles without any effort of attention. Doth the kitten of a month old require instruction touching the use of its eyes, or its ears, or its mouth? Moreover, it is most fitting that the throne of the mind should be on the most elevated point; that it should inhabit the loftiest story, and enjoy an extended view from its pair of attic windows over the scenes which take place in the world around. "Os homini sublime dedit, cœlumque tueri." Cribb; if you want a man to devour the greatest quantity of venison in a given time, you will apply to a pot-bellied alderman. The rule is equally applicable to the brains of quadrupeds as of bipeds. Toby, the learned pig, had a strikingly intellectual brow: parrots, in general, have the organ of language, and peacocks that of tune. Having thus, by strict induction, established the main propositions of phrenology, it is scarcely necessary to point out the manifest advantages resulting from a knowledge of the science. The phrenologist, on entering a mixed company, measures at a glance the inIn the next place-having thus proven that tellectual calibre of each; none can deceive in every individual, all manner of ideas (ex- him-no shallow declaimer can involve the cept in truth where the individual possesseth intensity of his ignorance in a mist of words, not a single idea) flow from the brain-we no empty-headed plagiary can conceal the proceed to show that this brain must neces-nakedness of his own ideas beneath a stolen sarily be divided into sundry distinct compartments. dress. For example, should you chance to meet any leaden penciller, you could not fail to perceive the bumps of absurdity sticking out from either side of his head, like unto the ears of an ass. In the choice of your friends or your cook, of a partner for life or a partner for a quadrille, phrenology will be your guide. If your bosom friend hath not the organ of conscientiousness eschew lending him a hundred pounds on personal security; if he hath the organ of combativeness, fight shy of him altogether. The proof rests on analogy. Consider the other parts of the body, how that each hath its separate function. Five senses there be, (not seven, as some do vainly imagine,) and five organs represent the same; the eye is not confounded with the ear, neither is the nose implanted in the mouth-which last would be an unclean arrangement. We may take a lesson from the lowliest insects: the ant's nest, and the bee's hive, are respectively parcelled out into numerous minute and well- Again, phrenology would be an invaluable ordered compartments. How inextricable guide in the conduct of education. The pewould be the confusion, were the memory culiar method adopted should vary with each one vast store-house, or lumber-room, with- brat, and be made to act as a file on refracout division or arrangement: bales of hete- tory bumps, while correct young ideas might rogeneous thoughts piled upon each other, be taught to shoot correctly. Here, too, it is the rarest gems mingled with the most worth- to be remarked, that there is a palpable error less pebbles, the massive engine-wheels of in the practice of converting the birch into reasoning entangled with the clock-work of an argument à posteriori: seeing that the seat calculation, or the delicate machinery of fan- of knowledge is the head, it is inconsistent tunes? 66 that the seat of punishment should be the tail, | differing from each, and affording year after which, besides, when the punishment is se- year for ever, each its own peculiar product, vere, becomes unfit to be a seat at all: ac with unerring precision-the vine the grape, cordingly it is to be inferred, that the most the oak the acorn, the brier the rose, the foxnatural mode of correction is the giving a box glove its bells of blue, the holly its berries of on the ear, pulling the hair, or administering red-when, with more inquisitive glance, he a whack on the head with a round ruler. penetrates the thicker veil with which nature Several changes might advantageously be has curtained the chemical world, and suggested in our laws. In order to check the watches the several phenomena resulting vast influx of conceit and ignorance into the from chemical operations, combustion, putrereformed Parliament, a certain standard of faction, vegetable fermentation, &c. and obintellectual development should be made as serves the unfailing exactitude with which all indispensable a qualification as landed estate. these render obedient homage to the one Again, our criminal code should be so modi- great law of affinity-then, when he looks infied as to have reference, not to crimes actu- ward and contemplates his own system-beaually committed, but to the apparent propen- tiful as the most beautiful and not less worsity to commit crime. For, on the principle thy of Omnipotent Wisdom than the most that prevention is better than cure, much worthy-when he looks inward, I say, and trouble would be saved by hanging without beholds all there confusion and imperfection the smallest ceremony all persons afflicted when he perceives that, of all the systems with certain dangerous bumps, without wait- of nature, that of man alone is liable to deing for the result of the operation of the said rangement, and is the only one of all which bumps in the shape of murders, robberies, ever fails of fulfilling its intention-when he and the like. sees that while all others always go right, his Innumerable other important consequences own goes almost always wrong-when, moreoccur to me, but lest my apology should it- over he reflects that his own system is the self require an apology, I will be wise in time. work of the Almighty hands which fashioned In conclusion, oh, most sapient reader, let me and gave being to all the others—when the ask whether thou hast never given half-a-eye remarks all this, the mind cannot but be crown to a gipsy to foretell thy future for- irresistibly struck with the anomaly, and the Is it less probable, then, that nature tongue cannot but exclaim, “ Why is this so?" should have written thy character on thy How is it that the system of man-of man, forehead, than that fate should have scribbled the most perfect of all God's creations-how her decrees in the palm of thy hand? Or, per- comes it that the system of man is for ever chance, you have dived into the arcana of going wrong, while all around him goes right? astrology, and read (or thought you read) the The natural average of human life, we are secrets of coming ages (and your own little told on high authority, is "three-score years adventures among others) in the paths traced and ten." How happens it, then, that "about out by the mighty bodies which traverse space? one-fourth of the children that are born die If so, you are like unto the sage who spent within the first eleven months of life; onethe morning in looking for his spectacles, the third within twenty-three months, and onesame spectacles being just then athwart his half before they reach their eighth year? nose, and assisting him in the search. Two-thirds of mankind die before the thirtyninth year, and three-fourths before the fiftyLimbo, May 21, 1836. first so that, as Buffon observes, of nine children that are born only one arrives at the age of seventy-three; of thirty only one lives to the age of eighty; while out of two hundred and ninety-one, one only lives to the age of ninety; and, in the last place, out of eleven thousand nine hundred and ninety-six, only one drags on a languid existence to the age of a hundred years. The mean term of life is, according to the same author, eight years in a new-born child. As the child grows older his existence becomes more secure, and after the first year he may reasonably be expected to live to the age of thirtythree. Life becomes gradually firmer up to the age of seven, when the child, after going through the dangers of dentition, will probably live forty-two years and three months. After this period, the sum of probabilities, which had gradually increased, undergoes a progressive decrease; so that a child of fourteen cannot expect to live beyond thirty-seven years and five months; a man of thirty, twenty-eight years more; and, in the last place, a man of eighty-four, one year only. Such is the result of observation, and of calculations T. C. M. LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN.*— Γνώθι σεαυτόν. Whitechapel Churchyard, MY DEAR JOHN, * Continued from vol. i. p. 354. |