But it is

id not on this occasion break his windows. ment's reflection shewed us the folly word Roslyn and the Duke of Bedford's of any such suspicion. For we had ervants in the corner, were busily in the only to compare the account therein eantime preparing for an illumination, given, with the reality before our eyes nd Mr Byng's, on the other side of the in Edinburgh, to be assured that every quare, were no less active. Blessington syllable of it was true, human nature dorned his balconies with evergreens. The mob in front of the Club-houses was

being the same in Edinburgh and y great, that I did not venture into St London, and, indeed, all the world ames's-street, but stepped into Ridge- over, except in Caffraria and Cockaigne. ay's, where I heard that Lord **** was Edinburgh was drowned in tears. The aranguing the people from Brookes's, and windy suspiration of forced breath nat Mr Cam, mounted upon a lamp post, swept along the bridges and the ave the signal to applaud. Mr **** ankles of the young ladies were dishat brilliant saveall of oratory, stood with played in all their native and massive is new silver cider tankard, and as often beauty, by gales swollen by the con

s Mr ****** got warm in his effusions, gregated sighs of the loveliest of their - nd was like to lose his temper, supplied

sex. The first day of the Rumour was - im with a cool sip.

like a general Fast-not a soul to be - After listening to the gratulations of the

seen from Nicholson Street to Coates - Vhigs at Ridgeway's, I went over to Albe- varle-street--never shall I forget the im- Crescent. Every window was shutression up stairs—Hugo Foscolo was en

tered, and many families, needlessly leavouring to look sentimental, exclaiming, afraid of being disturbed by visits * che cosa che cosa !” The great publisher from others, at that time domesticated zimself was sitting writing notes at his ta- like themselves by the common afflic»le, unable to join in the conversation. Mr tion, had used the idle precaution of Milman was more afflicted than with the tying up the beil at the front door, as all of Jerusalem. Gifford sat by the bust in cases of lyings-in. At the corner of Byron, which some wag, whom we do not of a cross street would some solitary know, was slyly crowning with laurel. D'Is. caddie appear for an instant on the caeli, in the meantime, had appropriately look-out, and then taking a “sneesh reiled Sir Walter's with crape. -n vain for me to depict the several vari- out of his mull,” dive down in despair -:d expressions of sorrow which darkened into an area, and evanish among a

When the the visages of all those sons of light. heap of oyster shells. But the most extraordinary occurrence of Glasgow mail drove along Prince's the day was the conduct of the Cockney Street, it looked as if it had been poets. They all ran fluttering like so bringing letters from the living to the many lewdish sparrows, to the Examin- dead ; and the faces of four insides er's office, where it was agreed they should from the West Country, beaming of commemorate the event. About half- boiled beef, and redolent of the punchpast five in the evening, they began to bowl, seemed a strange mockery of assemble at White-Conduit House; and human suffering. Had all the people being resolved to evince a philosophic been dead or dying, it would have temperance in their good fortune, agreed

been nothing. What made it so to indulge only in tea and muffins, while the organ played, “ Taste life’s glad mo. shocking, was to know that they were But, after tea, some of the more

all in excellent health, but that in the jovial spirits among them proposed, that, hey-day of their happiness, a cloud according to the good old times of Eng- had come across them, and that they land, before port and punishment came knew and felt that the gaiety of nainto fashion, they should indulge in a tions was eclipsed for ever. In the crown bowl of punch, with which, as midst of all this stillness of sorrow, as their heads are rather weakly, they soon if to render that sorrow more ghastly, became so disguised, that, forgetting their the old pensioner whose business it is philosophic resolutions, they became so mad with mirth, that the landlord was

to play on the music bells in St Giles obliged to send them all to the watch Steeple

, at the stated hour of One, playhouse. The moment I learn farther parti

ed up Maggy Lauder ; nor could any culars, you shall hear from me again.— thing be more thrilling than when, at * Yours, &c.

the close of that idle air, was heard exe

cuted, with tolerable skill and spirit, Our first impression on perusing the “ The Devil among the Tailors. On above letter, was, that it contained an that day we understand the Court of exaggerated picture of the state of the Session did not sit-neither judge, public mind in London. But a mo- advocate, agent, nor client having ap

ts.

peared, and the door-keepers being through a telescope, and the calm, all invisible. The Banks were not deep, solemn expression of their after opened, nor, if they had been, would sorrow, to speak the truth, was more any business have been transacted. No gratifying, we will not say flattering

, newspaper was published by day, no to our feelings, than their first burst lamps were lighted by night, gas or of outrageous grief. Many wore oil. The watchman's rattle was hush- mournings. Not a few had crape on ed, the very Commissioners of Police their hats; and some sported weepers

. were subdued to sorrow—and the The general rate of walking was reScotsman, it is shed tears, and, duced, by an unpremeditated social not forgetting his gentlemanly man- compact, about one mile an hour ; and ners in his sorrow, with trembling the arms of the young ladies, which, fingers, blew his nose, and then wiped when they are in ordinary spirits

, it on his sleeve. By the Almanack it keep swinging like flails, now dependwas moonlight, but no moon appeared. ed languidly, and with a graceful feckJupiter and Venus had been seen only lessness, * by their sides. The Theatre, the night before in high health and which, with a proper regard to public beauty, but now they were off, nobody feeling, had been closed during the knew where—and, on putting our week, re-opened with the sentimenhead out into the palpable darkness of tal comedy of Mirandola ; and the the night, we felt the force of that churches began again to fill. The passage in Shakespeare, which till then price of butcher meat, which, duhad always seemed fantastical, but ring this fast of sorrow, had fallen which now sounded in our ears like to twopence a-pound, began to look the wild words of a neglected prophe- up--so did cod's head and shoulders; cy at last fatally fulfilled.

while the intention of the Magistrates

and Town Council to reduce the price Hung be the heavens with black, yield of the quartern loaf, was relinquished. day to night!

Nay, such is the inconsistency of huComets, importing change of times and

man nature, that many, who at first states,

were stricken deaf and dumb with Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky ; And with them scourge the bad revolting have forgotten the blow they had sus

contrition, now seemed entirely to stars, That have consented unto Blackwood's tained, and were abroad, going about death!

their usual avocations, with the same Blackwood the First, too famous to live air of stupidity and vulgar indifference, long !

as if Blackwood's Magazine, instead of Scotland ne'er lost a king of so much worth. being about to cease, had never began Scotland ne'er had a king, until his time. to exist. Virtue he had, deserving to command : The public feeling, however, in His brandish'd sword did blind men with Scotland soon began to express itself

his beams; His arms spread wider than a dragon's natural to the genius of the people,

in a manner more becoming, and more wings ;

than idle lamentation and querulous His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful

regret. The PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND fire, More dazzled and drove back his enemies,

were determined that we should not Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their retire from the 'EDITORSHIP, which, faces.

in their minds, was equivalent to the What should I say ? his deeds exceed all death of the work itself, if it was in speech :

their power to prevent it. He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquer’d.” Accordingly, a general meeting of

Several days passed by; and, as it freeholders and inhabitants of the city is not easy for any national calamity was called on the Calton Hill, “ to to put a final stop to the movements consider of the best means to be adoptof a considerable metropolis like Edin- ed of inducing Christopher North, Esq. burgh, after it has been set a-going to continue Prime Editor of Great Brifor some centuries, things got again tain," His Grace in the Chair. It upon their usual footing, and the in- is calculated that upwards of twenty habitants, though sad, seemed resign- thousand persons were present; and, ed. We watched them sedulously after several most eloquent speecues

extant.

12

from some of the most distinguished window, almost as soon as the sun himmembers of the Scottish Bar, and some self disappeared, poured forth a stream of the clergymen of the city, the fol- of triumphal glory, that produced the lowing resolutions were put and carried. finest effects of mass and profile on

I. Resolved unanimously, That Black- every object within the scope of their wood's Magazine is the best publication radiance. The upward shadow of the

castle spread into the abyss of night II. Resolved unanimously, That, in the like that of the earth, which causes present alarming crisis, it is expedient that the lunar eclipses; but, in a moment, Blackwood's Magazine should be conti

every turret and battlement was lighted nued.

III. Resolved unanimously, That Chris- up with blue fires, and Roman candles; topher North, Esq. is the best of all pos- Majesty visits Eðinburgh ; and a maga

exactly in the style intended when his sible Editors.

IV. Resolved unanimously, That Mr nificent display of fire-works, as bright Christopher North's Resignation of the and roaring as a volcano, bade all the Editorship of Blackwood's Magazine is hills, from the Pentlands to the Ochils premature, and must not be accepted. and the Grampians, lift up their heads

V. Resolved, That a Committee be ap- in the splendour, and rejoice. I pointed to represent the feelings of the The office of the Scotsman had a Meeting to Christopher North, Esq. farthing rush-light in its one single

Two days afterwards, deputations window, to save its panes from popular from Committees of the landed and indignation. commercial interest, and also of the Manners and Miller's shop was

naval and military service, waited highly creditable to their loyalty and & upon us, and earnestly, but respect- patriotism, having a very tasteful

fully, requested us to continue in office. display of Gus, with the appropriate

Overpowered by these expressions of motto, “ For a' that and a' that, and * national gratitude and regret, we at twice as muckle's a' that." * last were prevailed upon to relinquish

The demonstration on the opposite our intention, which, perhaps, we had side of the street was rather hazy. The

never seriously entertained ;-and so, Blue and Yellow lamps seemed to lack & not to endanger the safety of the oil, and to want trimming; and Mere country, we permitted an advertise- cury appeared duller than usual.

ment to be inserted in all the Edin- The Writers' Library was late of

burgh newspapers, and several pro- lighting up; but towards midnight it : vincial ones, that our resignation had shone out in a manner worthy of the

been returned, and graciously by us fraternity of the Signet. The Advocommitted to the flames ;—so that the cates' did not light at all ; and it was danger was past as soon as we had only by the utmost address on the búrned that letter.

part of Captain Brown, that a riot was Orders were immediately issued by prevented. the proper authorities for a general Large placards were exhibited by illumination of the city, on Monday, three hundred and sixty-five conthe 2d of December, and, though there stables, to inform the mob, that the was little time to prepare, several of Faculty were deliberating on the best the devices were at once ingenious and means of testifying their joy; and that beautiful. No. 17, Prince's Street,

no doubt their decision would be sawas a perfect star. Under the silver tisfactory to the people. This would, cross of Scotland appeared a transpa- doubtless, have been the case, but cerrency of ourselves, seated in our arm- tain Whig orators, by one of these chair, with our foot on the beautiful tricks peculiar to the party, made such soft padded stool, presented to us some long speeches, that the whole night years ago by Lady Morgan, while a was consumed in debate. bright circlé enveloped us, composed At Ambrose's the contributors supof the letters

ped; and that respectable broiler of CHRISTOPHORUS REDIVIVUS.

steaks exhibited his literature and loy

alty, by a beautiful star surmounting Early in the evening the whole city C. N. surrounded by a wreath of was attracted to the North Bridge, Thistles, Roses, and Shamrocks, of coby the most splendid preparations at loured lamps, in the most tasteful Ballantyne's Printing Office. Every manner. The Register Office exhibitVol. X.

5 B

3

their supper.

ed a row of flambeaux, and the Ma- ture on that day; and such was the gistrates, in a most splendid manner, stupor of grief at Harley's, that a illuminated the front of the Exchange, hundred cows went supperless to bed. and regaled the populace with five The theatre was open, but only one hundred hogsheads of ale. The Foun- young lady in the upper boxes, and tain and Cross Wells were pyramids one country minister in the bottomless of light, and the reservoir on the pit. Had Catalani been there, she Castle Hill having been made into would have sung in solitude-bad the punch, every pipe and cock in the Rumour been delayed till next summer, city supplied the inhabitants with the King must have put off his visit to that delicious Glasgow beverage to Scotland till the year 1823.

But it is impossible Paisley was in despair, from Maxwelfor us to describe the scene. Im- town to Gauze-street,-from the Snedagination alone can do it justice. den to the Seedle. Red were the eyes The testimonies of private rejoicing of the brown-duffled tambourers, and baffle all description. One circum- every weaver wept. Port-Glasgow stance, however, we ought not to ne vied with Greenock in grief. For one glect. The cocks began to crow at day, no allusion was made to the unten o'clock, believing they had over- fortunate steeple of the first, and the roosted themselves. The canary birds great question of the stools in the Asin their cages sung out rejoicing, and sembly Room of the second was set at Nature, like Tom Campbell's Andes, rest. “ A deep distress had humagiant of the Western Star, unfurled a nized their souls,” and there was a geineteor flag from Nelson's Monument, neral shaking of hands, in the reconwhich reached to Kirkaldy, and actu- cilement of a wide and general afflically set fire to the house where the tion. smuggler lived, whose execution occa- The Rumour crossed the Devil's sioned the Porteous mob.

Bowling-Green, and into the heart of The effects produced by the Rumour the Highlands. A thousand stills all over Scotland, were as remarkable were sad in the Moor of Rannoch, and as those of which we were ourselves the herring-fishing on Loch-Fyne lost eye and ear witnesses in the Modern a day. A drove of black cattle coming Athens. The Tontine at Glasgow was across the hill road from Spey-side to immediately hung with black velvet; Bræmar, was met by the Rumour, and and one illustrious gentleman, who Captain Macdougall, formerly of the disturbed the uniformity of the West 79th, who had become a great grazier, Country sorrow, by daring a grin, was fell off his shelty, and has remained forthwith kicked by a hundred feet senseless ever since. The sensation at into the Outer Exchange. The sharp- Inverness was much stronger than shooters, a fine body of 700 men, were that occasioned by their earthquake ; drawn up in a hollow and silent square and the countenance of John-a-Groats in the green near Nelson's pillar; was troubled. Many families talked (over which was hung a banner, with of emigrating, in consequence of this the arms of the city upside down ; sudden blow; and nothing but delica

; namely, the tree that never grew, the cy prevents us from mentioning the fish that never swam, and the bell names of three clergymen-one a Cathat never rung,) while a suitable dis- tholic, one an Episcopal, and one a course was delivered to them by their Presbyterian, who, in a rash moinent, incomparable Colonel, during which committed suicide, when they heard not a man in the corps refrained from we had resigned. The good old Prestears. The troops had wouden flints in byterian left strict injunctions to have their firelocks, signifying that all our a complete set of the Magazine, neatscintillations were gone, and the great ly bound and lettered, laid on his muffled drum was heard sounding all breast in the coffin, and buried along night through the city. The boilers with him-injunctions which were in all the steam-boats at the Broomie- scrupulously fulfilled by his son-a law were instantly mum--the callen- contributor: ders stood still-and a thousand spin- But this article threatens to become ning-jennies did disconsolately hang lengthy; so we have given you all we down their heads. Several of the Pro- could, and shall let you dream the rest. fessors were too inuch affected to lec- Buthow felt Scotland when the Rumour

a

a

was contradicted ? Precisely as a man not to give way to these sudden ebulunder sentence of death would feel on litions of feeling, which must sooner receiving an unexpected reprieve the or later prove ruinous to her, even night before execution, or rather, on though she should have the constituthe scaffold. Scotland was on the tion of a horse. However, the Public scaffold. She felt as if the rope were certainly might have a crow to pluck round her neck, and she were about with us in private, if she chose; for, to play swing. All at once Rumour had we not given in our resignation, changed his tone, and Scotland could she would have been spared all this bear to live. The effect was like ma- worry. But we have found how dear gic. No dead body on a dissecting we are to each other. Henceforth our table ever played such absurd pranks lives are united, and the day on which with foot, hand, or mouth, under a any thing is amiss with the one, will galvanic battery, as did old Scotland, be indeed a black day to the other. when she heard that our resignation May the Public live for ever! for newas all a bam. Grimaldi or Kean was ver never could we outlive the hour a joke to her. She took her foot in on which she was gathered to her faher hand, and so kept dancing about thers. We should just see her publicon the heather, in many a rigmarole. ly buried, and then lie down by her Then would she give a most indeco- side. rous slap upon her back settlements, The day has been when alternate fits accompanied with a yelling gaffaw; of pity, indignation and contempt, perthen she would speak Gaelic; and last- meated our minds on seeing and hearly, putting herself in an attitude of ing the occasional fooleries of worthy profound meditation, she would whip men anent Blackwood's Magazine, off a quaich of the mountain dew, as Now every thing of the kind is at an if it had been so much whisky, and, end, and if popularity had ever been with a convulsive shudder of exulting an object with us, we mnight indeed joy, shriek out our name" Christo- point to the laurels on our brow, and pher North, Christopher North,” till hold our tongues. But we allude to this, jovial Echo flung back the dear, dear not onour own account, but for thesake name in her face, from the rocky brow of those well-meaning men who reof Glenevis, or the stone-girdled bo- coiled from our patronage, and endeasom of Cairngorum. Loud lowed the voured to look shocked at the monthly cattle on a thousand hills—the red murders we kept conscientiously perpedeer in the forest of Dalness knew trating on the souls and bodies of the that all was right—the eagle, to shew traitorous and blasphemous Whigs. he was up to it, stooped down from a When we laid the axe to the root of“ the thunder-cloud, and gave a great gan- wicked, great in pride, spread like the der on a common near Fort-William green bay-tree, "and brought him crashsuch a drive on the posteriors, that he ing to the ground with all his branches, drove him into the Linnhe Loch in a could not the terrified Tories have shower of feathers; while a noble, quietly stepped aside out of the reach surly, sable, grim bull, coming slowly of the ruin, and then returned and from his mountain pasture, and meeting danced upon the fallen trunk? No. a questionable sort of animal, with a They were frightened at the concusGalloway stot appearance, ran him sion, and took like rabbits to their into a quagmire, in which he sunk holes; and, what was worse, pretenddown inch by inch, till he entirely ed hypocritically to lament the fall of disappeared—the last snort of his nos- the tree whose noxious drippings had tril blasting out a quantity of mud, withered every thing beneath them, and the red tuft of his tail peering and which was alike destitute of shelout, as a mark where the unfortunate ter and of shade. That time is over. steer had been thus prematurely in- The true Tories always loved us ;gulphed.

the half-breeds never did ; and they Such is an unadorned adorned the most now see, in their unprotected feebleness, account of the Ri our, its rise and fall. that they must endure, as best they And now that the Public must feel tole- can, " not the tyrannous breathing of rably easy and composed in her mind, the North,” but that calm and settled let us entreat her, for goodness sake, chill, beneath which expires the last