THE HIGHLANDER'S FAREWELL, SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN ON LEAVING ENGLAND. My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here, My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go.—Burns. Whilst around me my children, with prattling and noise, How they eagerly watch'd for my coming last night, JOHANNES S. DEATH OF THE DOG. No one rejoiced more sincerely on the passing of Mr. Martin's bill to prevent cruelty to animals than my friend Mr. Doveheart. Ay,' said he, when I met him a week or two after, 'the member for Galway has seen the death of a dog.' His spirit seemed to rejoice at the promised reign of humanity, and, for the first time during twenty years, he visited Smithfield. No man living contains within his breast so much of the rich milk of human kindness: he would not needlessly set foot upon a worm, and has long been quarrelling with his servant-maid for the merciless war she carries on against the spiders in his study. Every thing that lives has an abundant share of his sympathy; and, when it is fully demonstrated that plants are sensitive, I am certain he will desist from the consumption of vegetables, as he has long since done from the flesh of animals. His humanity is constitutional-a kind of benevolent disease, to which he willingly resigns himself. It had its origin in one of these incidents, trifling in themselves, but which frequently lends a hue to the future life of those more immediately concerned. When a child there were two things which he loved above all others-his sister and a black and white spaniel. Both were the constant companions of his walks in the garden; he played with them, caressed them, and dreamt of them. The little girl returned his fondness, and, in loving him, loved his dog. The animal was a fitting playmate for such gentle creatures; he endured the inconsiderate expression of their partiality, and obeyed their irksome commands without a growl or look of displeasure. Being perfectly good-humoured, he never evinced any sullenness, and seemed to rejoice as much as they did when mamma consented to release them from the constraints of the nursery. His pleasure was evinced by short barks, the agitation of the tail, and those quick and frequent jumps which bespeak happiness in dogs. One morning the spaniel was missing: he did not come as usual to the door of the nursery; no one had seen him, and the children repaired, unattended, to the garden. Here, in a lone walk, lay stretched the little favourite. They ran forward, with boisterous joy, to arouse him; called his name, with many endearing expressions of kindness, and even shook him, but he did not stir; he was stiff, he was dead! A ruffian blow, thoughtlessly given, had deprived him of life. It was the first time my friend had encountered the presence of death. He knew not what to make of it; he did not understand it; and, while the little girl, who had greater experience, was bathed in tears, her brother had sat down beside the dead body, taken the head in his lap, and tenderly besought his favourite to partake of his cake. But there was no motion; the eyes were glazed; and when the little fellow had comprehended that his dog was really dead, he stood as if petrified by the mingled feelings of fear, rage, and grief. Tears soon came to his relief, but they could not make him forget the death of the dog.' This event has ever been present to his memory, giving a tinge and direction to his mind. When he sees an animal treated harshly he ejaculates, Ay, that fellow never witnessed the death of a dog.' If tempted, by strong provocation, to strike, or chastise, any thing, he instantly checks his hand by the timely reflection, 'Perhaps somebody loves it as I loved my dog.' Being in the country, he witnessed a hunt, and, happening to be near the spot where the timid hare was killed, he simply exclaimed, Ay, gentlemen, you were never in at the death of the dog.' When he hears of brutal husbands, or inhuman parents, he cannot refrain from remarking, They have never seen the death of a dog.' The death of the dog' is so strongly impressed on his memory, that it tends to correct any little ebullition of anger that may arise, chastening his gentle spirit, and giving it a tone so humane and so mild that his very eccentricities only make him beloved the more. J. B. THE ANNUALS FOR 1830. THESE beautiful little harbingers of a social and joyous season have been this year more than usually numerous. Their multiplication, however, has not diminished their attractions; and the admirer of the arts will rejoice in the progress of that taste which has substituted such pleasing offerings, at this season of annual greetings, in lieu of less intellectual presents. We have now on our table more than a hundred and fifty engravings, after the Laurences, Martins, Wilkies, Retzsches, and the other great painters of the day and, where the rivalry is so extensive, the embellishments are, as might be expected, of a very superior kind. The burin may be said to have reached perfection: we know not how any thing better can ever be produced; and, at all events, our engravers cannot be supposed to stand in need of any further stimulant. It is not easy to imagine any kind of rivalry more generous or exciting the works of different artists are brought into immediate proximity, and judges will compare them. The encouragement of an ample remuneration is certainly not wanted. For The Crucifixion,' in The Amulet,' Mr. le Keux received one hundred and eighty guineas; and for The Minstrel of Chamouni,' the frontispiece to the same work, Mr. J. H. Robinson has been paid a hundred and forty-five guineas. We should think that many of the embellishments to the 'Keepsake' must have cost sums equally large and extraordinary. Among the best plates in the Amulet' are the two we have mentioned: the first is after a design by Martin, and the second from a painting by Pickersgill. Many of the other embellishments are hardly less excellent. The first Interview between the Spaniards and Peruvians,' by Greatbach, after Briggs, is an interesting subject, well managed. The head of the monk is quite a study, but the Indians are extravagantly flattered. The painter, as well as the poet, is permitted to exaggerate; but the licence should never VOL. II. Dec. 1829. 2 A be abused. Nature should be adbered to-and Nature has not given the wretched and squalid Peruvians elegantly proportioned forms, high foreheads, and limbs like the Apollo Belvidere. The Dorty Bairn,' by Wilkie, has nothing remarkable about it; but' The Sisters of Bethany,' by Danforth, after Leslie, is worthy of these artists. The subject has been treated after a novel and perfectly original manner. 'The Pedagogue,' The Gleaner,' and 'The Mandoline,' are every way worthy of a volume in which the embellishments already mentioned are to be found. The Forget-Me-Not' comes before us each year with additional claims to our commendations. Two of the plates are alone sufficient to elicit unlimited praise. These are The Land Storm,' and Undine.' The last by Warren, from a painting by Retzsch, the celebrated German artist, and the former by Shenton, after Clennell. It is melancholy to think, that the mind which created the Land Storm,' so perfect and so original, should be now reduced to hopeless inanity in the cell of a madhouse. The other plates are of different degrees of excellence. · We are glad to find that Friendship's Offering' has this year lost none of its attractions; the binding is, as usual, splendid, and the embellishments are in the very first style of art. We have been particularly pleased with Early Sorrow,' by W. Finden, after Westall. A little fellow, before he is half dressed, visits his favourite bird, which he finds, alas! dead. The painter has seized the moment when he is overcome by the first burst of anguish, and represents him standing immoveably before the cage, his eyes dilated, his fingers expanded like a fan on his side, and his looks expressive alike of astonishment and despair. He seems as if he could not believe the evidence of his senses, and his sorrow is evidently too deep for tears. The engraver has done ample justice to the design; and though there are several other very fine plates in the book, it is no dispraise to say that they are all inferior to Early Sorrow.' ་ |