of Hamlet, "I pray thee take thy fingers from my throat." The janissaries were disposed to be very insolent, thrusting their sticks between the legs of the gentlemen to throw them down, and shewing other marks of contempt and ill-will. This was far, however, from being generally the case; on the contrary, the name "Ingilisi" seemed to procure for us attention and good-will. We now proceeded to the second gate, where we were obliged to wait till the vizir and the pashas passed out; and in the mean time the janissaries were dispersing in groups, every man with a bag of money on his shoulder.

At length we were liberated, and mounting our horses, we arrived at Pera at four o'clock, after thirteen hours' fagging, during a part of which we were perspiring under a burning sun, in fur pelisses.

We all dined, including his excellency, with the consul-general, when the events of the day afforded us much amusement. [This is certainly a most ludicrous specimen of Turkish court manners, and one to which we should be loth to be subjected, however great our curiosity.]

LOITERINGS OF TRAVEL.

BY AN AMERICAN.

NO. I.-LONDON.

Foreigners in England-Distrust of them by the Natives-Continental Adventurers, and "Fortune-hunters." THERE is an inborn and inbred distrust of "foreigners" in England-continental foreigners, I should say-which keeps the current of French and Italian society as distinct amid the sea of London, as the blue Rhone in lake Leman. The word "foreigner" in England, conveys exclusively the idea of a dark-complexioned and whiskered individual, in a frogged coat and distressed circumstances; and to introduce a smooth cheeked, plainly-dressed, quiet-looking person by that name, would strike any circle of ladies and gentlemen as a palpable misnomer. The violent and unhappy contrast between the Parisian's mode of life in London and in Paris, makes it very certain that few of those well-connected and sufficiently rich will live in London for pleasure; and then the flood of political emigrés, for the last half century, has monopolized hair-dress

ing, &c. to such a degree, that the word Frenchman is synonymous in English ears with barber and dancing-master.

Notwithstanding the rage for foreign lions in London society, a well-introduced foreigner gets easily into this, and while he keeps his cabriolet and confines himself to frequenting soirées and accepting invitations to dine, he will never suspect that he is not on an equal footing with any milor in London. If he wishes to be disenchanted, he has only to change his lodgings from Long's to Great Russelstreet, or (bitterer and readier trial) to propose marriage to the Honourable Augusta or Lany Fanny.

Everybody who knows the society of Paris, knows something of a handsome and very elegant young baron of the Faubourg St. Germain, who, with small fortune, very great taste, and greater credit, contrived to go on very swimmingly as an adorable roué and vaurien till he was hard upon twenty-five. At the first crisis in his affairs, the ladies, who hold all the politics in their laps, got him appointed consul to Algiers, or minister to Venezuela, and with this pretty pretext for selling his horses and dressing-gowns, these cherished articles brought twice their original value, saved his loyauté, and set him up in fans and monkeys at his place of exile. A year of this was enough for the darling of Paris, and not more than a day before his desolate loves would have ceased to mourn for him, he galloped into his hotel with a new fashion of whiskers, a black female slave, and the most delicious histories of his adventures during the ages he had been exiled. Down to the earth and their previous obscurity, dropped the rivals who were just beginning to usurp his glories. A new stud, an indescribable vehicle, a suite of rooms á l'Africaine, and a mystery, preserved at some expense, about his negress, kept all Paris, including his new creditors, in admiring astonishment for a year. Among the crowd of his worshippers, not the last or least fervent, were the fair-haired and glowing beauties who assemble at the levees of their ambassador in the Rue St. Honoré, and whom le beau Adolphe had looked upon as pretty savages, whose frightful toilettes and horrid French accent might be tolerated one evening at the week-vu le souper!

Eclipses will arrive as calculated by insignificant astronomers, however, and debts will become due as presumed by vulgar tradesmen. Le beau Adolphe

began to see another crisis, and betook himself to his old advisers, who were desolé to the last degree; for there was a new government, and the blood of the Faubourg was at a discount. No embassies were to be had for nothing. With a deep sigh, and a gentle tone, to spare his feelings as much as possible, his friends venture to suggest to him that it will be necessary to sacrifice himself.

"Ahi! mais comment!"

66 Marry one of these bêtes Anglaises, who drink you up with their great blue eyes, and are made of gold!"

Adolphe buried his face in his goldfringed, oriental pocket-handkerchief; but when the first agony was passed, his resolution was taken, and he determined to go to England. The first beautiful creature he should see, whose funds were enormous and well invested, should bear away from all the love, rank and poverty of France, the perfumed hand he looked upon!

A flourishing letter, written in a small, cramped hand, but with a seal on whose breadth of wax and blazon all the united heraldry of France was interwoven, arrived through the ambassador's despatch-box, to the address of Miladi Belgrave-square, announcing, in full, that le beau Adolphe was coming to London to marry the richest heiress in good society; and as Paris could not spare him more than a week, he wished those who had marriageable daughters answering the description, to be bien prévenus of his visit and errand. With the letter came a compend of his genealogy, from the man who spoke French in the confusion of Babel to le dit Baron Adolphe.

To London came the valet of le beau baron, two days before his master, bring ing his slippers and dressing-gown, to be aired after their sea-voyage across the Channel. To London followed the irresistible youth, cursing, in the politest French, the necessity which subtracted a week from a life measured with such "diamond sparks" as his own in Paris. He sat himself down in his hotel, sent his man Porphyre with his card to every noble and rich house whose barbarian tenants he had ever seen in the Champs Elysées, and waited the result. Invitations from fair ladies, who remembered him as the man the French belles were mad about, and from literary ladies, who wanted his whiskers and black eyes to give their soirées the necessary foreign complexion, flowed in on all sides, and

Monsieur Adolphe selected his most mignonne cane and his happiest design in a stocking, and "rendered himself" through the rain like a martyr.

No offers of marriage the first even

ing!

None the second!!

None the third!!!

Le beau Adolphe began to think either that English papas did not propose their daughters to people as in France; or, perhaps, that the lady whom he had a commissioned to circulate his wishes, had not sufficiently advertised him. She had, however.

He took advice, and found it would be necessary to take the first step himself. This was disagreeable, and he said to himself, "le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle," but his youth was passing, and his English fortune was at interest.

The

He went to Almack's and proposed to the first authenticated fortune that accepted his hand for a waltz. The young lady first laughed, and then told her mother, who told her son, who thought it an insult, and called out le beau Adolphe, very much to the astonishment of himself and Porphyre. The thing was explained, and the baron looked about the next day for one pas si bête. Found a young lady with half a million sterling-proposed in a morning call, and was obliged to ring for assistance, his intended having gone into convulsions with laughing at him. story by this time had got pretty well distributed through the different strata of London society, and when le beau Adolphe, convinced that he should not succeed with the noble heiresses of Belgrave-square, condescended, in his extremity, to send his heart by his valet to a rich little vulgarian, who never had a grandfather, and lived in Harley-street, he narrowly escaped being prosecuted for a nuisance, and, Paris being now in the possession of the enemy, he buried his sorrows in Belgium. After a short exile his friends procured him a viceconsulate in some port in the North Sea, and there probably at this moment he sorrowfully vegetates.

This is not a story founded upon fact, but literally true. Many of the circumstances came under my own observation, and the whole thus affords a laughable example of the esteem in which what an English fox-hunter would call a "trashy Frenchman" is held in England, as well as of the travestie produced by transplanting the usages of one country to another.

N. P. WILLIS.

MISCELLANIES.

ANECDOTE OF THE EARTHQUAKE AT
MESSINA.

THE Marchioness de Sparada during the earthquake was conveyed by her husband to the harbour; but during the preparations for the embarkation, having recovered her senses, and perceiving that her infant son was not with her, she profited by her husband's being too busied to attend to her, and ran back to the town. She found her house safe, and going up stairs, took her infant from its cradle, but could not return, as in the interim the staircase had fallen. She flew from room to room, distracted by repeated crashes from one part or other of the building, and got to the balcony, where, thinking herself safe, she held up her son, imploring assistance from those who saw her. The interest, however, which every one felt for himself at the moment of this dreadful and general calamity, prevented any attempt to rescue others from the impending danger, and the house taking fire, the heroic mother fell a sacrifice to her maternal affection. Her body was found with her babe clasped in her arms,—an embrace which death itself could not loose. G. M. J.

son

JESUITISM OUTWITTED.

SOME years ago a gentleman died at Paris, and left all his estate from an only son he had then abroad, to the Jesuits, on condition that they should give his "whatever they might choose." When the son came home, he went to the convent, and small indeed was the portion they "chose" to give him. The youth was ruined, and consulted his friends. All agreed there could be no help. At last a counsellor, to whom he happened to mention his case, bade him not despair, but sue the convent, and he would gain him his cause, which he did upon this plea: The testator had left his son the share of his estate which the fathers' should "choose:" it was plain which they chose, by what they had kept to themselves; this, therefore, was the portion the son ought to have. The turn thus given to the case, was successful, and by this piece of law-jesuitism, the holy fathers were lurched at their own game.

BISHOP OF CLOYNE.

THE romance of real life never presented a more remarkable instance of worldly success than in the instance of the above prelate, who was known to the world by the name of Warburton, but whose real name was Mungan. He was the son of

a strolling piper in the north of Ireland, and originally designed for the Romish church, to which his father belonged. Being, however, sent to one of the charitable institutions on the continent, endowed for the education of Roman Catholic priests before the erection of Maynooth college, he was thrown by accident into the society of Earl Moira, and having obtained his favour, was induced to embrace the Protestant faith. After taking orders, he was made chaplain to a regiment in America, and there married his first wife, and on her early death, his second, who is now his widow. With her he changed his name to Warburton—with her he pursued the way to rank, fame, and fortune; became dean of Ardagh-then Bishop of Limerick, and finally, Bishop of Cloyne. Both at Limerick and Cloyne, Dr. W. was much esteemed for his liberal and courteous manners. His family mingled with the best of society, and he always manifested much attachment to the people of his diocesses. His daughter, Miss Sclina Warburton, was one of the most charming and amiable young ladies in the world. Her life was spent in acts of love and charity, Her father allowed her the interest of 25,000l., her promised fortune, and she expended almost every shilling of it in relieving the distressed. She died of a decline, brought on, they say, by a misplaced affection, and her remains were carried to the grave amid the lamentations of the objects of her bounty. To such a daughter, the most heartless father must have been attached

Dr. Warburton was so most fondly. His own health declined from the day of her death. He frequently visited her grave, and his last instructions were, that he should be laid by her. About a week before his decease he went to the church, and stood for some moments in painful silence over the spot where he was soon to rest, pointing to it, saying "Therethere," raised his hand to the wall over it, appeared to trace with mournful bitterness of heart the fine epitaph that would probably be a mockery to his real life, and then slowly passed away as if he had taken a last farewell of humanity, and had entered into a solemn compact with death. That day he went to his bed of death, and in one week more was borne to his last home! The retired situation of Cloyne had given him an opportunity of increasing his wealth, and the piper's son died worth 70007. a year, and 120,000l. in ready money. Requiescat in pace!

No. 139.

ZALMONA THE GNOSTIC. A LEGENDARY FRAGMENT.

BY J. FITZGERALD PINNIE.

(For the Parterre.)

Ir was long after the midnight watch, when all the congregation of the Gnostics, who had spread themselves wherever Christianity was known,* began to as

"The Gnostics seem to have been the most obscure, and at the same time the most

important of the early Christian sects. They

are so seldom noticed that little has been hitherto generally known of their practices and opinions; yet they were so universally spread that the whole Christian church was identified with them, and their conduct appears to have brought down destruction on the entire Christian community.

"They had now expanded themselves beyond the provincial limits to which they were at first confined, and mingled with and tainted every Christian community wherever the gospel had extended itself."-Dr. Walsh.

Montfaucon observes that no superstition was more widely spread, or universally adopted. He alone has given three hundred fac similes of their gems with different devices and inscriptions, and Dr. Walsh numerous others.

semble in their secret meeting-place to celebrate their veil-hidden rites beneath the abode of Alammelec, their chief priest and leader, dwelling in the city of Sorbisdunum. The tripod lamps were sending forth their odoriferous flame in the splendid and retired hall of Alammelec, who had not yet descended to his initiated followers, to perform the terrible mysteries of their strange religion.

Alammelec and Zalmona, a beautiful fanatic, the chief favourite of his secret harem, sat alone in that hall, adorned of their office, as priest and priestess of with the curious and sumptuous robes their unholy sect. Zalmona was descended from a noble family in the east, and born within the pale of the Roman empire. She had lately arrived in Briof zeal and flaming ardour, and ready to tain from the capital of the world, full compass sea and land, could she but make one proselyte to her cabalistic creed. This lady possessed a noble and

+ Salisbury, the occasional residence of several of the emperors when in Britain.

graceful form, which was heightened by the loose and ample robe, trailing on the ground, and covered with gold and gems, which she wore over a vest of laminated silver. This stola of office was of tyrian dye, and curiously wrought with figures of Anubis, Serapis, and other idol gods of Egypt, and strange forms of serpents with feet, magic words and mystical vowels, forming the ele ments of certain charms, in which, as the Gnostics imagined, lay concealed supernatural and miraculous power. Her zone, ornamented with abracadabra, enchantments wrought in gold, was fastened beneath her bosom with a large and brilliant chrysoprace, on which was engraved a crocodile having two heads, but neither of them represented the true one belonging to that animal. A winged figure was on its back, denoting by the rays of light which encircled its brows, the similitude of one of the numerous angels, held by the Gnostic faithcompound of Christianity, Jewish cabalisticism, Pythagorean philosophy, and Chaldean divinity-to be the architects of the universe, who guide and guard the world and direct the solar course.

-a

The countenance of Zalmona was moulded with Grecian symmetry, and of the most voluptuous cast, a living and perfect copy of the finished statues found in that land of art and genius. Her eyes were blue, lighted up with passionate fires, and all the wild and fanatic enthusiasm which a religion, polluted by carnal feelings, sensual pleasures, and the unrestrained indulgence of the grossest depravity, could inspire. Her hair, naturally of the brightest auburn, was elevated to a considerable height, with row on row of ample curls; these were anointed with the richest perfumes, showered with gold dust, and intermingled with flowers and pearls, while round her snowy shoulders wandered her ungathered tresses in profuse ringlets like sun-beams falling on the purest marble. On her forehead was bound a radiant stone, in which was graved the mystic word Abraxis: its lightning flashes were in colour like unto the rainbow, and it was deemed by her followers the star of their oracle. On her left shoulder were clasps of burning gems, each marked with a spelt vowel, forming a charm that commanded spirits and demons to do her bidding. Her arms were encircled with golden brace lets, formed like serpents, and covered with hanging sleeves of transparent silk, wrought in the celebrated looms of Cos,

through which their faultless shape appeared like polished ivory. Seal-rings, each a spell, glowed on her white fingers, like rubies scattered on sculptured alabaster.

Alammelec was somewhat declined into the vale of years. His locks were sprinkled with the grey tint of age, but this was concealed by their being dyed of a bright yellow and plentifully pow dered with gold dust. His brow was furrowed with deep wrinkles, but it was lofty and noble, and on it was strongly imprinted the vanity and insufferable haughtiness which his heart cherished, strengthened by the conceits of a fancied superiority, which his exclusive creed engendered; proudly believing that he was the favoured minister of heaven, and dooming all who were not of his faith to the everlasting wrath of an offended Deity.

His eye was subtle, dark and piercing as the eagle's, while its lascivious fires, mingled with a ruthless malignity, such as may only be seen in the glance of a fiend, flashed from its rolling orb like the lightning through the winter storm. His visage was pale and cadaverous, and his lips were curled with a profound scorn of all mankind beyond the pale of his own belief. His was a countenance in which might be read, as in a book, the most sensual desires and unrestrained passions, with scarce a gleam of the better part of man to enlighten the dark expression of a mind devoted to cruelty, superstition, and pride. He wore on his head a mitre of gold, in the front of which shone the image of Simon Magus, a renowned leader of the sect, under the form of Jupiter, encircled with an initial cabalistic inscription, in serpentine form.

"My charming Zalmona," said Alammelec," thou art a genuine proselyte to that only true religion on earth which is pleasing to the supreme Deity! We, who are its faithful believers, have all knowledge, attainments, arts, and sciences, aided by superhuman instinctiveness centred in ourselves, while the rest of the unelected and unenlightened world, both christian and pagan, are but dumb dogs and filthy swine!"

"Yes-thou glorious chief of the only wise and noble!" returned Zalmona, "we are of the truly spiritual race, and all mankind besides but animal and carnal, bound in bondage to darkness, the slaves of sin, and doomed to eternal destruction. Valentinus, one of thy great predecessors, has taught us that the Gnostics are already perfect; that those