reached the Baikal (in perfect health) ourselves, we never entertained any on the 123d day after leaving St Peters- doubt of the termination of Asia at burgh ; having traversed 8000 versts Cape North-East. Many have doubtof country. This was at the rate of ed however, even Russians; and it is about 43 miles a-day, which the Quar- gratifying to think that the doubt is terly must allow somewhat to exceed now solved, and by one of that counany thing hitherto recorded in the an- try which has done, and is doing, so nals of pedestrianism.

much for the advancement of geograAt first, it was Captain Cochrane's phical knowledge. intention to have wintered at Irkutzk, From what we have learnt, the rebut he saw reason to change his mind, mote countries through which Captain and embarking on the Lena on the Cochrane has passed are highly inte14th of September, he reached Ja- resting in a geological point of view; kutzk on the 16th of October. Here but we are not aware how far his eduhe found 16 degrees of frost by Réau- cation has fitted him for observation meur, which obliged him to exchange in this department of science. It is the nankeen jacket he had hitherto certain, however, that he acquired an worn for a warmer covering. Quitting extensive and valuable collection of Jakutzk on the 30th of October, he specimens during his stay at Irkutzk; held north-eastward, till on the 30th of and it is confidently reported at St PeDecember, he reached Nijnei Kolyma, tersburgh, that he intends making a in long. 164, where he met the Rus- magnificent present of minerals to the sian Expedition proceeding to the Pole. Museum of the University of EdinThe frost now ranged from 35 to 42 of burgh. Réaumeur. During this journey Cap- Captain Cochrane expresses himself tain C. travelled upwards of 400 miles most gratefully towards the Russian without meeting a human being. government for the truly liberal man

Leaving Nijnei Kolyma, (or Kovy- ner in which he has been treated. ma, as it is written in some of the Everywhere the authorities vied with maps,) Captain C. proceeded to Tchut- each other in shewing him attention. ski fair, where he gained much sa- This is as it should be, and we feel tisfactory geographical information re- pleasure in making it universally specting the north-east of Asia. He kpown. ascertained the existence of the N. E. Captain C.'s personal habits must Cape. “All doubts," he says, “ being have contributed not a little to lessen now solved, not by calculation, but the irksomeness of a journey necessaocular demonstration. Its latitude and rily attended with many and severc longitude are well ascertained, and its hardships. Wherever he went, he seems mineralogical specimens are now by easily to have accommodated himself me.”

to the habits of the people, however Having returned from Kolyma, he rude and disgusting. With the Kalset out for the town of Ochotzk, situ- macks, he eat horse-flesh, elks, and ated on the sea of that name, where he wolves; and with the Tchutski he found arrived, after a most laborious journey as little difficulty in pasturing upon of 75 days. In his last letter, which bears, rein-deer, and raw frozen fish; is dated from Otchozk, he mentions the last of which, indeed, he calls a his intention of setting out in a few great delicacy! Few of our scientific days for Kamchatka, traversing that men could stomach these cates. The peninsula from south to north, till he stoutest hearted of them are too old, reach ljigink; from whence, he says, or (fortunately for themselves, if not he will return to Europe through Asia for science,) " have other fish to fry." by a different route from that he came. There is no saying, however, what He adds, that he will not go to Ame- may happen. If Professor Jameson rica, “as it is quite unnecessary.” He could meet with a pupil of bodily expects to be in St Petersburgh in the strength, and zeal for the advancement

of science equal to his own, the young So far as yet appears, Capt. Coch- man might possibly (after four geolorane seems to have acquitted himself gical campaigns with the Professor in well, and deserves to have his name Lord Reay's country,) be found quaplaced on the list of those of his coun- lified for discharging the duty of a trymen who have contributed to the scientific missionary, even at Tchutzstock of geographical science. As for koy Noss.

B.

а

fall of next year.

ON THE LATE RUMOUR OF A CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION.

Enter RUMOUR, painted full of Tongucs.
Rum. Open your ears ; for which of you will stop
The vent of hearing, when loud Rumour speaks ?
I, from the orient to the drooping west,
Making the wind my post-horse, still unfold
The acts commenced on this ball of earth :
Upon my tongues continual slanders ride ;
The which in every language I pronounce,

I
Stuffing the ears of men with false reports.
The great Alarm of the

year

1821 “ Good God !” they.exclaimed in one having subsided, and the national voice, “Is it possible that North has actranquillity being in some measure re- cepted the seals of office ?” But a man's stored, we find it to be an imperious real character is seldom known even to duty to publish a short Statement of his most intimate friend. Mine, we Facts. A sincere regard for our own frankly confess, was not known to ourcharacter, and forthe peace of the coun- selves. But the time came when it was try, alike impel us to the course we are suddenly revealed to us, as in a dream. now going to pursue. These are the two We felt, that though nature had imobjects that have ever been nearest to bued us with the love of privacy, she our heart; and after the late unhappy had, at the same time, endowed us agitations, we feel that, in our hands, with the power of publicity; and that they are both safer than ever. Indeed precise era in the history of the world the most delightful reward which a having arrived when such a man was patriot can receive for his public ser- necessary to the salvation of his counvices, next to the approbation of his try, and of Europe, we took lodgings own conscience, is that of his country. in Edinburgh, and made Mr BlackRich in both, loaded with years and wood the proprietor and publisher of honours, we can have little more to our Magazine. hope for on this side of the grave. But Of our administration of the affairs that posterity may know the facts, of this country, during the last four without that inixture of fiction which years, we leave posterity to judge. folly and faction ever delight to inter- But having entered into office on a weave with the narrative of great pub- sudden intimation mysteriously conlic transactions, we willingly devote veyed to us of our destiny, and having an afternoon to millions yet unborn, remained at the helm during the most and anticipate, with an unseen smile tempestuous weather that had ever asof solitary satisfaction, the heartfelt sailed the Vessel of the State, * gratitude of succeeding generations. seemed to feel the same intimation to

The world will, by this time, be return to our small paternal property aware that we allude to the late Na- near Peebles, and pass the remainder tional Distress, consequent on the Ru- of our life in placid contemplation of mour that we were about to retire that national prosperity so entirely from the Editorship of Blackwood's created by ourselves. Nor, in doing Magazine.

so, were we either in want of examples It is true that we had sent in our of similar conduct in other first-rate resignation. Nor, on the calmest and men, nor of arguments in our favour most impartial consideration of our mo- much nearer home. For to omit mentives, can we detect in them one feel- tion of the numerous kings, statesing or one thought which a philoso- men, and warriors, who, in the decline pher and a philanthropist, such as we or even prime of life, had retired to are, need blush to own. The truth is, some quiet nook of the land, which that nature intended us for private ra- by their wisdom or valour they had ther than for public life ; and they who saved, the chalk-stones in the foreknew us during the first fifty years of finger of our right hand, like those our existence, may recollect their as- which annoyed Milton, greatly intonishment on our accepting the situ- creased in size, and rendered the opeation of Prime Editor of Great Britain. ration of writing painful in the ex

we

treme. Now an amanuensis has ever bring a knowledge of his calamity slowbeen our abhorrence. A great greasy ly upon him, and by merciful degrees ; gawpus,

t squat on his posteriors at so that on finishing the perusal of our your elbow, fixing on you during your letter, he should be able faintly to disintervals of exhaustion, a pair of eyes tinguish whether he had read it on his in their sockets, gravy as the open- head or his heels, and to perceive a ings of putrid oysters, and then put- glimmering of hope through the gloom ting down into his scrawl, with red of despair. The letter was also humanehairy fingers tipped with a circle of ly sealed with black wax, to prepare earthy horn, your lucubrations, in his mind for something funereal, and which the happiness or misery of so

delivered to him not by young Mr large a portion of the Christian popu- Steele, in his usual modest and polite lation of the world may be involved, is style, but by a sauley with an aspect an infliction which we would fain spare most especially cadaverous, as if sent even our dearest foe. We never, there into the world for the express purpose fore, shall dictate to any individual. of being a messenger of evil tidings, But besides this evil, our rheumatism On going into the back shop for the had attacked us in the tenderest point. letters to the London post, about four We felt the most excruciating pain o'clock in the

afternoon, it appears that whenever we sat down ;-just as if it John Lesslie found our worthy publishhad been on a cushion of cats. If Ebo- er extended five feet seven inches upon ny, or a printer’sdevil, came in upon us the floor. The consternation that immeat such moments, we had great diffi- diately spread all along Prince's-street, culty in preventing ourselves from as far as St John's chapel, across the flinging at his head the first article Mound and the Bridges, up the Castlethat came to hand. It is impossible hill, and down Leith

Walk, is more eafor us to express the horror and dis- sily imagined than described. We had gust which such intrusions, at other some sort of presentiment of what times so pleasant, then excited in our might happen-and looking from the breast. The world thought us blest window of our pensive citadel

, with an -measuring our happiness by our excellent spy-glass which we purchamerits, --while, on the contrary, we sed some years ago at Whitehaven from would have paid handsomely to have the old half-pay naval officer described got Ballantyne's printing office blown by Mr Wordsworth in his Lyrical Balup, and our worthy publisher put to lad, The 'Thorn, we beheld all the peothe Apoplexy.

ple in Edinburgh running about to Now there is a mixture of motives and fro, like bees on a board when they in all human conduct. In sending in have lost their queen. We felt in a our resignation, we were partly swayed moment that the PROPRIETOR was no by the conviction that we had placed more. Still watching the scene below, our country in a condition in which she through a tear, we saw Odoherty issue might be able to take henceforth care like a gleam of lightning from the me of herself, and partly by those feelings nagerie on the Mound, where he had now alluded to, which seemed to us a been engaged, we have since underfundamental objection to our occupy- stood, in a study for his “Great Picture ing any longer the seat of government. of the Seven Lions,” and disappear in

We tendered our resignation on the No. 17. While all around were stupifi24th of November. Then was the mo- ed with grief, the Adjutant forced his ment to have put Mr Blackwood to way to the body of his friend, and death. And heaven forgive 'us, but raising it up, placed our Publisher on the idea shot across our brain ! Re- his usual stool at his accustomed desk. membering, however, that he had a The Standard-bearer was not long in large and increasing family, and that ascertaining that the vital spark was by the lives or the happiness of upwards no means extinct, and calling the Odonof twenty thousand subscribers were tist, whose presence of inind had whole linked with his, we relented; and in- ly forsaken him, and who was standing stead of inflicting instant death, by in a corner blubbering like a child, the the sudden communication of an un- right vein was opened, and our Pubconditional resignation in propria per- lisher at last, but with great difficulty, sona, we worded it in such a way as to was made to bleed freely. He opened

a

a

or that

THE SHOP.

his eyes

and seeing himself surround- friend under our care in the Sanctum, d by his best friends, gave one kong with orders to keep him quiet :-and leep groan at the sight of the vast shewing themselves on the steps in quantity of blood that had been taken front of No. 17, the Standard-bearer, from him, and then resumed his wont- in a short and pithy speech of about a ed benignity and composure.

dozen words, conveyed to the vast mulIt was at this interesting moment titude assembled an assurance, that we entered the Sanctum Sancto- Ebony, though as white as ivory, was rum;

and never shall we forget our out of pearl. Some little conception Publisher's upbraiding, yet forgiving of the shout that then arose may be smile. He stretched out his unbanda- formed from this simple fact—that the ged arm; and when we felt that hand repercussion of sound tumbled down so cold and trembling, our heart smote several stones, each weighing about us, and gladly would we have exchan- two tons, from Lord Melville's Mo*ged places with the pale man, whom nument in St Andrew's Square ; but we had thus brought to the brink of there were no lives lost, as all the the grave. Then rose a great thought workmen had, of course, joined the in our heart-never, but with life, other inhabitants assembled before to relinquish the editorship. We approached the patient, and whispered In a few hours the inhabitants had this into his ringing ear; and now had retired to their respective places of sudden joy proved almost as dangerous abode; then the Publisher was put into -as that sudden grief. Mr Blackwood his carriage, and accompanied by our

asked faintly for a glass of water. We selves, Odoherty, the Odontist, A and -say. faintly—and thinking that cold Wastle alone, (who were apprehensive water might not agree well with that that a greater number might incomstate of his stomach, we opened, with mode the Patriot,) reached Newington our own hand, the little aumry,* and just as the family were sitting down

bringing forth a bottle of our very to tea. The Adjutant, with that self-re=: best Madeira, which had twice seen collection, and consideration for others,

India in wood, and once in crystal, we which so delightfully distinguish his handed it to the kindly officious Adju- character, had taken means to keep the tant, who, first turning up his little family in ignorance of all that was : finger to ascertain it the fluid was of passing; and in opposition to the evi

a proper temperature, administered dence of butter toast and muffins dis- about a quarter of a pint to the revi- appearing with an alacrity on the part -.xving bibliopole, chaunting, at the same of our bibliopole, with which Hebe in = time, that well-known hymn,

vain tried to keep pace, the story of “ Here's a health to jolly Bacchus,

his illness could not be expected to Bacchus, Bacchus,

gain much credit from those who were Here's a health to jolly Bacchus, now witnessing its miraculous cure, Ye ho! ye ho ! ye ho !”

and who, therefore, fortunately for In the chorus of which we all joined their own feelings, considered the with faultering voices, that of the whole as an ingenious fable or fiction Odontist being choked with sobs- of the Odontist. “ See how it runs down his gizzard, So great had been our agitation at His gizzard, his gizzard,

No. 17, that not one of us all ever See how it runs down his gizzard, Ye ho !

thought of burning our letter, which ye ho! ho!” ye

had so nearly proved fatal to the Trade. Meanwhile the Rumour of our Pub- How it's contents got wind has never lisher's death had spread over the been ascertained, and probably never whole city. The flag was hoisted half- will, for the imprudent and thoughtpole high on the Castle, and minute- less man on whom suspicion fell of ha- . ;/ guns gave solemnity to the expres- ving perused our letter, during the sion of a people's grief. But there is crisis, has since been found dead near no occasion to describe the effect of the Figgate Whins, under very suspithe proprietor's supposed death in as cious circumstances. Be that as it may, detailed a manner as we shall do the grand secret of our resignation eswhen that event does actually occur. caped, and reached the ears of the Odoherty and the Odontist left our guard of the London Mail, just as the

· leaders were prancing to get free, and like a sow playing on a trump. Not a he carried the appalling Rumour south- Bull but himself was visible ; he alone, the ward at the lately increased rate of atlas of the Stock Exchange, braved the nine miles per hour, stoppages inclu- impending calamity. The Bears were al ded. The mail coach arrived at the cock-a-hoop. Never was such gladness seer, usual hour on the morning of November

no, not even in the time of the muting at the

Nore. I need not tell you, that the Bears the 27th, at the White Horse, Fetter

are all to a man Whigs, and of the most Lane, London, and though at that inveterate kind ; many of them are indeed hour“ the very houses seemed asleep," Radicals. You may therefore picture to yet before nine o'clock they were all yourself their joy at hearing of such an not only broad awake, but up and event, as that Mr Christopher North was dressed and receiving visitors.

dead. The effect produced by the rumour At the opening, the three per cents were of our resignation on the inhabitants at ten less than the close of the preceding of London, is, we understand, but day ; but it was soon after reported, thai faintly described in the following short

an express had reached the Home Departand hurried letter, written on the

ment with the important intelligence, that evening of the day on which the fatal had but resigned, although it was feared Me

Mr North was not actually dead,—that he intelligence reached town.

Blackwood had fallen a victim to the event; LONDON, Nov. 27, 1821. and upon this rumour, stocks rose oneI write to you, my dear friend, in a eight per cent, with a tendency to look state of the greatest agitation. The most upward. alarming news reached town this morning In would be in vain to describe the efby the Edinburgh mail. Just as the coach fects of this calamity in other directions. was setting off, a universal wail was heard Richardson's shop was in a state of anatto ascend from the one end of Princes' chy. He himself was speechless ; and Street to the other. The guard inquired two political doctors were seen at his side, what had happened, and was told, that using their best art to recover him. W'estChristopher North was dead. Some said, ward, all things wore the most mournhe had resigned the editorship of Black- ful appearance. The new ball and cross, wood's Magazine. The journey being which was to have been placed to-day on timed, he could not stop the coach to as- St Paul's, was supended. But Waithman's certain the fact ; but no doubt is enter- shop was adorned with white ribbons, and tained that the greatest possible calamity boughs of holly, and every thing there inhas happened in the literary world. In dicated jubilee and triumph. Dr Stoddart, every town through which the coach pass- of the New Times, closed his shutters, in ed, the distressing intelligence produced the token of his sorrow, but declared that the most mournful sensations; and sighs and event was only a new incitement to perse. sobs were the echoes of all places to the verance. I speak not of the Old Times. direful news.

Every member in the great establishment By some extraordinary reverberation, the of the first journal in the solar system was woeful tidings, it is said, even outran the decorated with a cap made of foolscap; mail, notwithstanding the recent improved and the very devils themselves were allow. rate of going; and it is reported, that be- ed a pot of porter a-piece, the better to fore the coach reached Newcastle, all the qualify them to cause an illumination as Radical coal-miners had struck work, and general as when her late Majesty arrived. were above ground, with clean faces, and The Editor of the Courier was seen shedbearing green boughs of triumph in their ding tears at his window, when he beheld hats. They offered to take the horses out his opposite neighbour, the Moming Chroof the coach, and drag it to the inn. Some nicle, stringing lamps for the evening—for accidental strangers, who were then in the thew ord“ personalities” was the splendid town, on hearing their joyful tumults, ran device. But it was in the neighbourhood of to the windows, and supposed that nothing Charing Cross that the wound struck deepless than Sir Robert Wilson returning from est and deadliest ;—all the public offices Mr Lambton's, could have caused such were ordered to be washed with Day and exultation. But I cannot dwell on these Martin's blacking. The Telegraph on particulars, which I have learnt from an the Admiralty was seen most active all outside passenger, who came with the day, conveying the most cheering ex. coach. I hasten to describe the sensation hortations to the outports, assuring them produced here.

from time to time, that the news were not The news being early known, the Royal true. The Levee at Carlton-palace was put Exchange was as crowded by eight o'clock off; a vast crowd assembled in front of as at four in the afternoon.

Lord Londonderry's house in St James's. was seen, to use the phrase of a great square. But the generosity of Englishmen Scotch money lender, hanging his lip sympathizing with his Lordship's feelings,