wax and plaster are taken of this mark by the pilgrims, and carried home with them! Close to the mosque are the remains of the ruined convent of St. Pelagia, which is said to be erected on the spot where the Virgin Mary received three days' warning of the time of her death! On my return to Jerusalem, a small ridge by the road-side, close to some olive trees, was shown to me, as the identical spot where our Saviour stood when he taught the disci-composed,) yet, on occasions of such family ples the Lord's Prayer, (Luke xi.); and, considerably below to the left, a ruined building, with a subterranean apartment, supported by twelve arches, where, it is said, the apostles compiled their creed !! On descending still further, a piece of ground, just above the Garden of Gethsemane, was positively affirmed to be the place where our Saviour wept over Jerusalem, and pronounced the prophecy of destruction, afterwards so strikingly and awfully fulfilled-" The days shall come upon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench round about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side!" And here it was that the tenth legion of the army of Titus afterwards encamped. (To be continued.) THE MARINERS OF THE POLLET. BY MRS. GORE. CLOSELY adjoining the town of Dieppe in Normandy is a suburb called the Pollet, which, though divided from it by the estuary of a river scarcely half the width of the Thames, differs as completely from the parent town in manners and customs, dialect and costume, as the capital of England from that of Spain. The Pollet is supposed by historians to have been colonised by the crews of vessels from some Mediterranean port ;* the dialect of the Polletais, or Poltais, containing a number of Italian words, and resembling that of the Lazzaroni of Naples in idiom and pronunciation rather than the French language. Their original costume, also, is strictly Italian. Their bigoted superstition savours of Italian origin; while the barcarolles, with which the mariners mark the measure of their oars as the fishing-boats are rowed back into the harbour, might almost be mistaken for those of Venice; the letters; and g being pronounced by the Poltais, as by the Venetians, z. The peculiarities of the tribe, thus strangely isolated, can of course have been preserv. ed through succeeding ages, only by force of strong prejudice and extreme superstition. *In the letters patent, by which, in 1283, Philip III. ceded to the Archbishop of Rouen his crown lands in the Pollet, the place is styled "Villa de Poleto.". It was inculcated as a matter of religious observance among them from sire to son, that a Poltais must match with a Poltaise, and that any deviation of costume was an offence against the community. Accordingly, though a Poltais family might cross the harbour on the Sabbath to perform its devotions in the noble church of St. Remy, or the cathedral of St. Jacques, (the patron of the fishermen, of which the population of the Pollet is entirely celebrations as marriages or baptisms, they never failed to solemnise their rites in their own humble chapel of Notre Dame des Grèves-a temple which might pass, belfry and all, through the porch of either of the Dieppois churches without bowing its head. Though at times the town of Dieppe has arrived at high prosperity, and distinguished itself in the annals of the country, the Pollet has neither condescended to ape its fashions, nor to court, reflected from its face, a ray of royal sunshine or civic advancement. Mansions of considerable dignity have arisen in Dieppe worthy to afford shelter to Napoleon and the Duchesse de Berri, in their successive days of triumph; but the Pollet contains not a single house of mark, remaining composed (as in the days of the bombardment of Dieppe by the English in 1694) of a few narrow streets, inhabited by mariners and their families, and the petty tradesmen requisite to supply their wants. An ancient convent converted into a barrack, and a modern prison and house of correction, are the only buildings of consequence in the little suburb of the Pollet, which is comprised between the mouth of the harbour and the base of the chalky cliffs overlooking the junction of the river Dieppe with the sea. Within a few years, indeed, the connection between the town and suburb has been drawn closer by the construction of a passerelle or floating bridge, facilitating the intercourse of their respective inhabitants, long interrupted by the ruinous state of the ancient bridge of the Pollet. But till the middle of the last century the differences between the Poltais and Dieppois amounted almost to the feuds of rival factions. The former appear indeed to partake of the fiery particles of those Castilian children of the sun from whom they are supposed by many to have their origin; while, as an instance of the violence of their opinions and doggedness of their obstinacy, it is related that D'Aubigne, archbishop of Rouen, coming to preach at the church of St. Remy in Dieppe, after having suspended from his duties one of the vi cars of the Pollet, suspected of inclining towards the reformed church, the Poltais, not choosing to be confessed by any but their favourite priest, proceeded in a body to the church, clambered up the rails of the chancel, and, with vehement threats and imprecations, drove the archbishop from the celebration of the mass into the sacristy. In the sequel the prelate was compelled to restore the officiating vicar to his office, having departed furtively from the town in the dread that the contumacious Poltais might execute or the rich garniture of Valenciennes lace in their threat of seizing the archbishop and which it was enveloped; or even by her flinging him into the harbour over the bridge rights as wife to a thriving house and ship. of the Pollet, which he must traverse in or- holder. Madame Crosnier was, according der to proceed to his visitations in Norman-to continental phrase, “ néé Pierretle Bouzard, dy. being daughter, sister, and aunt to those three remarkable mariners of Dieppe, who having, as pilots of the port, preserved from ship. wreck and other maritime disasters more lives than the Hôtel Dieu has saved by its medicaments, were honoured by Napoleon with golden medals, commemorating their prowess, and the free gift of a substantial dwelling-house, erected on the jetty for their hereditary use, and bearing the inscription, The brother of Pierrette had even appeared at the court of Louis XVI. to receive from the hands of Marie Antoinette the cross of St. Louis as a reward for his services: and on his return from this visit to Versailles, honoured with the title of "le brave homme" by his royal hosts and their courtiers, Bouzard undertook the part of sponsorship for little Maxime Crosnier, now a flourishing lad of twenty-one. About the year 1800 a small house in the Grande Rue of this curious suburb was in the possession of a family of the name of Crosnier, by one of whose forefathers it was constructed nearly two centuries before. Pierre Crosnier, the father, was accounted in his neighbourhood a wealthy man, being proprietor, not only of the aforesaid solid dwelling-house of stone, consisting of two stories and a grenier, but of a fishing-smack," Don de la patrie." known by the name of the Belle Gabrielle, esteemed the best weatherboat belonging to the port of Dieppe. The Crosniers were, in fact, a prosperous generation. It was recorded that the dwelling in the Pollet, having been completed scarcely twelve months before the great bombardment, by which the town was destroyed, and the principal inhabitants deprived of shelter, was hired at a high price by one of the notables as a refuge for his family during the reconstruction of On account, perhaps, of this auspicious cirhis own; and that, on quitting it two years cumstance, Maxime became a sort of pet in afterwards to take possession of his new re- the family. It is true, the boy bade fair to sidence in the Rue de l'Epée, the tenant emulate the renown of his maternal kinsfolk, marked his satisfaction towards his host, by having distinguished himself by exploits of endowing him with the household furniture courage and address in the harbour, at an wherewith he had replenished his abode. age when most youngsters are clinging to This might account for Crosnier's possession their mothers' apronstrings. But Maxime, of two richly-carved armoires, or cupboards in his blue woollen jacket and woollen cap, of oak, and two old-fashioned beds of walnut and trousers of coarse canvass, was seen one wood, with a set of high-backed chairs and moment clinging to the maintop of some cumbrous tables to match, which, together Norwegian sloop, and the next diving to the with a huge screen of gilt leather gracing bottom after some object flung overboard by the parlour, still commanded the admiration the crew as an incentive to his attempts, till of the Pollet. But we must look to more re-his adventurous spirit rendered him as great cent sources of prosperity as the origin of a favourite with the sailors of the Pollet, and the prodigious supply of household linen filling the armoires in question; to say nothing of the twelve clumsy couverts d'argent, and soup-ladle and coffee spoons of the same material, which distinguished the board of Jacques Crosnier from those of his less weal. thy brother mariners. The family was not only well to do in the world, but appeared uniformly prospered by the same good luck. It was calculated in the harbour that finer turbots were despatched to the Paris market by the owner of the Belle Gabrielle, than by all the other fishermen of the Pollet; and the first haul of mackerel for the season, and first freight of herrings, was sure to reach the port the crews of the foreign merchantmen trading with Dieppe, as with his own parents. The high spirit of Maxime was rendered more apparent by the inertness and taciturnity of his elder brother. Jacques Crosnier, though bred amid the perils and pastimes of seafaring men, displayed a natural distaste for his father's vocation, which grew with his increasing years. Old Bouzard, apprehensive, perhaps, that his grand-son might in some case of emergency evince a want of hardihood discreditable to the family, at length backed the boy's entreaties to his fa ther to be allowed to settle to some sedenta. ry trade; and, after innumerable family dissensions, Jacques was apprenticed to an ivoThe fisherman's family consisted of two ry.carver, (a trade which for three centuries sons; the elder, Jacques, being named after past has afforded a monopoly to Dieppe, the holy patron of his calling, and the young- where, early in the sixteenth, it originated in er, Maxime, after his grandfather. His help- the trade of the Dieppois with the gold coast, mate was a jolly soul, some four feet in cir- of which they were the first discoverers, their cumference, whose ruddy brown complexion settlement being antecedent to those of the and comely countenance proclaimed that in Portuguese.) In his new calling the sober her earlier days she had shared the toils of youth displayed capacities for which he obher husband, exposed to the scorching sun as tained little credit among his relations. A retailer of her wares in the fish market. But hardy, blustering race, they had no patience Madame Crosnier enjoyed a distinction far to see a fine likely lad weary out his days at beyond that conferred by her comely face, a turning-lathe, or in scraping with a file at from the nets of Pierre Crosnier. a slender piece of ivory, to form spillikens | from his own happy prospects and the pros-for the toyshops. Even when, at the expiration of five years' close attention to his business, Jacques Crosnier was enabled to present to his mother, on her fête day, one of those full-rigged miniature frigates in ivory, which constitute the chef d'œuvres of the trade, together with two exquisitely carved figures of our Lady, and her patron Saint Peter, with his keys, to form a suite of ornaments for the mantelpiece of her state parlour, the jolly dame could not help attaching more value to the branches of coral and glossy shells brought home by Maxime from his first voyage to the West Indies, than to the elaborate productions of her more gifted first.born. Maxime, with his fine frank countenance and hearty disposition, still remained the favourite child. perous position of his brother. For Maxime had successfully exerted his influence with his parents to obtain their sanction to the marriage of their elder son, whose ateliers as an ivoirier were established in the house adjoining their own in the Pollet; and though the young person to whom he had united himself was come of a family with which the Crosniers had been formerly at variance, the persuasions of Max, and the prudent deportment of Madame Jacques, prevailed in inducing the old people to admit the newly-married couple as inmates under their roof. One of the chambers of the second floor was assigned to their use, leaving the other still sacred to the goods and chattels left behind by Maxime on embarking for his voyage. The ivoirier repaired every morning to his workshop, slipping home for meals and an occasional chat with his demure bride: and the old people not only reconciled themselves to the addition to their household, but were cheered by the constant spectacle of happiness and affection. Maxime, meanwhile, devoted to his brother the strongest affections of a warm and loving heart. Though the partiality injudiciously betrayed by their parents might afford some slight pretext for the envy and jealousy of the elder brother, it should have been disarmed by the generosity with which "Thou hast done thyself an ill turn, lad, Maxime, disdaining to profit by his influence, by introducing to thy father's hearthside two seized every occasion of displaying to advan- that are little inclined to advance thy inter, tage the talents and industry of Jacques, and ests in life," cried Bouzard to his nephew, bringing forward to the notice of the family when Max went to take leave of his friends his claims and deserts; still, Maxime enjoy- previous to sailing. "A word in thine ear, ed the Benjamin's portion. It was Maxime Max, my boy,-thou wilt repent having given whom the old folks called to their side when, thy shoes to wear in thine absence to that on Sundays or fête days, the family proceed-bone-clipping brother of thine." ed together to dance at the guinguettes of Jan- "Jacques hath as good a right as I to abide ville or Martin l'Eglise. It was Maxime's under my father's roof," replied Maxime; head on which, in childhood, they had been " nay, more, since he hath a wife to mainapt to bestow their first benediction; and it tain, while I (thank God) have at present no was Maxime's hand which, in dawning man-mistress save fine weather." hood, they sought as their support whenever "Thou wilt have a master soon, if I have there was rough work to be done, or a rough step to be overpassed. any skill to read the compass," cried Bouzard; "Jacques is a smooth-spoken chap, able to palaver the eyes out of a man's head; as thou wouldst have known long ago to thy cost, but for the favour thou seemest to have brought with thee into the world thou wert born to. But smooth as he is, Max, he hath taken to himself a mate with fifty-fold his own cunning and make-believe. If Madame Jacques don't get the length of my sister's foot before the year's out, my name is not Jean Bouzard !-Mark, I beseech thee, Max, how artfully this woman hath already rigged herself from top to toe after the strictest fashion of a Poltais, instead of the gay fly-caps and body-gear she wore as a maiden; and, not a word from her lips now, forsooth, that a soul t'other side the harbour is likely to understand!-'Tis not natural, Max, in a Dieppoise to whistle her words Pollet fashion. As our song says,- Though strongly attached to the calling of his forefathers, Maxime's adventurous spirit could not long rest contented with the monotonous life of a Dieppe fisherman. Having succeeded in persuading his father that his place as simple mariner of Belle Gabrielle might be easily filled up, he obtained permission to embark on board a lugger freighted for Havre, whence it was easy to work a passage to the West Indies, with a view of improving his maritime experience, and see. ing something of the world. From the West Indies Maxime Crosnier proceeded to New York, and previous to his return to his native town he had obtained such high testimonials for steadiness and good conduct, that two of the principal merchants of Dieppe, engaged in the North Western trade, contended to obtain his services at a higher rate of remuneration than had ever yet been offered on the quays of Dieppe. By the liberality of his father the same sum of money which had been advanced for the setting up in business of Jacques, was now bestowed upon him to invest in ventures presenting themselves in the course of his voyages; and the young But I am plaguily mistaken if Madame Jacman took leave of his parents for the second ques don't get more as her portion by pre. time in exuberant spirits, arising at once tending love for the Pollet than a stale whit 'Moi, ze fais ma ronde ing, or even her lawful half of thy father's belongings." "I'm not apt to judge harshly those who are loved by those I love," cried Maxime. "I warrant, uncle, you'll have changed your mind about my sister-in law by the time I'm home again!" It was Maxime, however, who was fated to change his mind. Scarcely had the Amphitrite sailed, when Madame Jacques, who, by dint of the most artful obsequiousness, was now high in favour with the narrow-minded old Madame Crosnier, began to insinuate that it was a lucky thing for Maxime he was forced by his profession from Dieppe; as another month's sauntering among the bosquets of the Faubourg de La Barre would have placed him at the mercy of a certain Mademoiselle Louise, a coquette of indifferent reputation, the daughter of Swiss refugees, who, after a life of adventure in Paris were fain to hide their heads and their poverty at Dieppe,probably with a view of escaping from their creditors by embarking for England. rier nor his wife omitted a single occasion to poison the ears of the old people with rumours and anecdotes redounding to the discredit of Ma'amselle Louise. They even eventually admitted their apprehension that-according to the common reports of the neighbourhood-Maxime was actually pledged to marry the foreigner, and had only been restrained from communicating his intentions to his family by dread of prematurely provoking their opposition. "He is only waiting,” quoth the demure Madame Jacques, till his ventures have prospered, ere he takes upon himself a wife of his own choosing." "That shall be seen," cried old Pierrette, in a fury. "Our lady be praised! children have as yet no warrant in France for rebellion against their parents!" And having arrayed herself in her richest Sunday cap and amplest petticoat of scarlet kersey, she set off across the pont des écluses, and up the cours, towards the Faubourg de la Barre; where, having atMadame Crosnier heard and trembled! It tained the modest habitation of the widowhad been for many years her favourite project ed mother of Louise, she poured forth her to unite her darling son with the only daugh- denunciations-rendered almost inarticuter of one of her commères of the Pollet,-her late by the unusual effort of transporting fellow-labourer of old with the shrimping- her sixteen stone of solidity to the sunny net and the chalut; and now her evening slopes of La Barre. Had not the old lacompanion over a cup of café noir, or a glass of anisette. That Max should not only defeat her plan, but think of introducing into an honest family of the Pollet some tripping foreign minx covered with ribands and furbelows, caused a flush of indignation to overspread her bronzed cheeks. dy's eyes been somewhat dazzled by the glare, as well as her respiration impeded by the exercise, she would have noticed that the fair and humble girl, who, by her industry as a sempstress, was supporting a venerable parent, was a far different being from the flaunting coquette describ"This then was the reason that the blocked by her artful daughter-in-law. But afhead could never be persuaded to spend his ter having called the saints to witness that Sundays at home with us!" cried Madame neither she nor her husband would ever Crosnier; "and no one to warn me of the sanction the marriage-contract of their son danger that was hanging over the family!- Max with any but a Poltais, Madame Cross'apristée!-to think that I might have had a nier rushed forth again on her way homedaughter-in-law pretending to sup my soup wards, without pausing to examine the rein a flounced petticoat,—and, who knows-sult of her invectives, or the aspect of the perhaps a silken bonnet cocked on the top of Dumont family. her empty head!" "You would not have wished my husband to injure his brother by hinting what was going on?" inquired Madame Jacques, meekly. "I would; and even now I will have him acquaint his silly boy of a brother in the letter he has undertaken to write for us to Max in the course of the winter, (for God knows Pierre Crosnier and I are better hands with the rudder and distaff than with pens and ink!) that when he comes back to Dieppe, he must make up his mind either never again to set foot in the house of this foreign hussey, or never to re-enter his father's. There's choice left him, Madame Jacques, and that's enough." Overpowered by so strange an inbreak, the poor girl beloved by Maxime had in fact fallen senseless to the ground. Louise was a patient, laborious, gentle creature, the very person to have conciliated the regard of his mother, had she viewed her with unprejudiced eyes. Madame Jacques's report of the engagement of the young couple meanwhile was a true bill-having been communicated in confidence to her husband by his brother, who intended to choose an auspicious moment at some future time for breaking the matter to his parents. But now all hope of a favourable termination was at an end. The Crosniers threatened their maledic. tion in case of Maxime's perseverance; This denunciation was duly transmitted and the elder brother, satisfied that under to his brother by Jacques Crosnier, who un- such circumstances the high-spirited Max dertook at the same time to exert his influ- would neither complete nor relinquish his ence with his parents to procure a remis- engagements with Louise, flattered himsion of the sentence previous to Maxime's self that his junior must remain a bachelor return. Yet so far was this engagement to the end of his days, and that there would from being fulfilled, that neither the ivoi- be no new rival to his influence in the Pollet. The vessel in which Maxime Crosnier had night under the roof of his uncle Boudeparted was at length seen in the offing, zard, after spending an evening of interwaiting for the tide that was to enable her to mingled joy and affliction with his affianenter the harbour. According to the cus-ced wife; and having learned in detail to tom of the place, a pilot-boat instantly put what excess his parents were carrying their off to communicate to the Dieppois captain exasperation, entreated his uncle to acquaint the events that had occurred in the town them on the morrow of his determination during his absence; which he alone was to wait the influence of time upon their prejuprivileged to announce to his crew; for dices; but his fixed resolve to wed with no while the deepest anxiety prevails on other wife than the excellent Louise Dumont. board a French homeward-bound ship among husbands waiting to know the welfare of their families, and children dreading to learn the loss of their parents, the men are summoned one by one to the cabin, and informed by their captain of the good or ill news awaiting them on landing. rents; and insinuations that, in the filial duty of her own little boy, the grandfather and grandmother would find consolation for the contumacy of their ungrateful son. Madame Crosnier, meanwhile, who, in spite of all, was burning with impatience to clasp her rebellious but darling son in her arms, would have been unable to persist in her obduracy, had not her insidious daughter-in-law laboured to convince her that the eyes of the Pollet were fixed upon her As it happened, however, to be Jean Bou- proceedings, expecting an example from zard who, on the present occasion, hailed her firmness. Madame Jacques had althe Amphitrite, the captain consented to ready succeeded in obtaining an express allow him the favour of a personal inter-interdiction, on pain of paternal maledicview with his nephew, her second mate; tion, of all intercourse between Jacques and and in a moment Maxime Crosnier was in his brother, and now filled up every spare the arms of his uncle. moment with reports of disrespectful lan"All's over for thee, lad," cried the mar-guage uttered by Maxime against his painer, after having satisfied the young man of the health of his family; "that which I predicted hath come to pass. A serpent hath knotted herself around thy mother's heart, and thou must prepare to give up all intercourse with thy bonne amie, Louise Dumont, or re-enter thy father's house no more, et voilà!" Maxime's heart, which was still beating with the delight of being again pressed to the bosom of his kind good uncle, sank like lead at this afflicting announcement. Further explanations did but aggravate his despair. "Thy foolish mother charged me to be the bearer of these evil tidings," said Bouzard. "Now thou art warned of the worst. Ask me for no counsel-for, on the soul of an honest seaman, Max, I know not how to advise thee, since I cannot guess how far thou art committed with the girl. But unless thou art minded to give her up, hazard no meeting at present with thy father and mother, for there is no saying to what extremities their vexation may urge them." This declaration was soon painfully attested. Amid the hundreds who thronged the jetty to catch the first sight of the long absent ones, as the good ship the Amphitrite was towed into the harbour, no one It was noticed that on the week preceding came to welcome Maxime Crosnier. Lou- the sailing of the little fleet, Maxime, as well ise and her mother were weeping silently at as Madame Dumont and her daughter, were home. They dared not make their appear-missing four days from Dieppe. Some said ance on the quay, lest they should seem to confront the wrath of his parents; while Madame Crosnier and her spouse were watching anxiously, yet sullenly, from their window in the Pollet, waiting the event of their negotiation with their son. It is astonishing, when once a family feud is established, what pains are taken by neighbours, not otherwise ill meaning, to widen the breach! A few of the relations of the designing Madame Jacques-a few of the disappointed rivals of Maxime-a few of those who found it convenient to court the rising sun of the ivoirier and his wife, and not a few who, for want of better employment, amused themselves with stirring up the wrath of old Pierrette,-contrived so bitterly to aggravate, in the course of the next six weeks, the ill-will of the parties, that Maxime, who had determined, previous to his return, to spend the winter at home, in order if his parents' consent could be obtained, to solemnise his marriage with a wife whom the success of his ventures already afforded him the means of maintaining, now acceded to the proposals of the owner of the Amphitrite, and accepted the command of one of the fine vessels which were about to sail for the cod fishery on the coast of Newfoundland. they were gone to Rouen on an excursion of pleasure; some said to Havre; and one or two, recollecting that Louise and her mother were of Swiss origin, whispered that perhaps Maxime Crosnier had suffered himself to be converted to the Reformed church; and that the young people were gone to get furtively married according to the rites of the Lutheran church, of which, in many cities of Normandy, there exist congregations. The result was, that Maxime made no attempt to re-enter his father's abode. A tear sprang into his eye as he steered past the Belle Gabrielle in the harbour, and inferred from the manner in which It was fortunate for Maxime that he was the good old craft lay neglected, that already out of port before this rumour reachhis father had no longer heart to super-ed the ears of his parents, or even of his unintend his property. But he slept that cle Bouzard, who was a bigoted and super L |