over the plains, and bounding in playful innocence, to figure to himself that these ornaments of the desert can often become as destructive as the locusts themselves. The incredible numbers which sometimes pour in from the north, during protracted droughts, distress the farmer inconceivably. Any attempt at computation would be vain; and, by trying to come near the truth, the writer would subject himself, in the eyes of those who have no knowlege of the country, to a suspicion, that he was availing himself of a traveler's assumed privilege. Yet it is well known in the interior, that on the approach of the trek-bokken (as these migratory swarms are called), the grazier makes up his mind to look for pasture for his flocks elsewhere, and considers himself entirely dispossessed of his lands until heavy rains fall. Every attempt to save the cultivated fields, if they be not enclosed by high and thick hedges, proves abortive. Heaps of dry manure (the fuel of the Sneeuwbergen and other parts,) are placed elose to each other round the fields, and set on fire in the evening, so as to cause a dense smoke, by which it is hoped the antelopes will be deterred from their inroads; but the dawn of day exposes the inefficacy of the precaution, by showing the lands, which appeared proud of their promising verdure the evening before, covered with thousands, and reaped level with the ground. Instances have been known of some of those prodigious droves passing through flocks of sheep, and of numbers of the latter (carried along with the torrent) being lost to the owners, and becoming a prey to the wild beasts. As long as these droughts last, their inroads and depredations continue; and the havock committed upon them is of course great, as they constitute the food of all classes; but no sooner do the rains fall than they disappear, and in a few days become as scarce on the northern borders as in the more protected districts.

"The African colonists themselves can form no conception of the cause of the extraordinary appearance of these animals; and, from their not being able to account for it, those who have not been eye-witnesses of such scenes consider their accounts as exaggerated; but a more minute inspection of the country south of the Orange River solves the difficulty at once. The immense desert traets between that river and our colony, westward of the Zeekoe. River, though

destitute of permanent springs, and therefore uninhabitable by human beings for any length of time, are, notwithstanding, interspersed with stagnant pools, and vleys, or natural reservoirs of brackish water, which, however bad, satisfies the game. In these endless plains, the spring-boks multiply, undisturbed by the hunter (except when occasionally the Bosjesman destroys a few with his poisoned arrows), until the country literally swarms with them; when, perhaps, one year out of four or five, a lasting drought leaves the pools exhausted, and parches up the soil, naturally inclined to sterility. Thus want, principally of water, drives those myriads of animals either to the Orange River or the colony. But, when the bountiful thunder-clouds pour their torrents upon our burnt-up country, reanimating vegetation, and restoring plenty to all graminivorous animals, then, when we could, perhaps, afford to harbour those unwelcome visitors, their own instinct and our persecutions propel them again to their more sterile but peaceful and secluded plains, to recruit the numbers lost during their migration, and to resume their attacks upon us, when their necessities shall again compel them."

To this statement, Mr. Pringle adds the result of his own observations.—” I once passed through a most astonishing multitude scattered over the grassy plains near the Little Fish River. I could not, for my own part, profess to estimate their number with any degree of accuracy; but they literally whitened, or rather speckled, the face of the country as far as the eye could reach over those far-stretching plains; and a gentleman, better acquainted than myself with such scenes, who was riding with me, affirmed that we could not have fewer of these animals, at one time, under our eye, than twenty-five or thirty thousand.

"I am not aware whether any species of antelope nearly allied to the springbok is to be found in the northern parts of Africa, or in Palestine; but it is a singular circumstance that the name of this animal, in the Bichuana language (tzebe), is precisely the same as that used in the Song of Solomon, to designate an animal of the antelope family, roneously rendered roe in our translation.

er.

"The spring-bok is easily tamed when caught young. I have seen it, in several

places, reared as a plaything for the children, at the farms of the colonists, sometimes playing like a pet lamb about the doors, among the numerous swarms of dogs and poultry, in other instances accompanying the flocks of sheep and goats to pasture, and returning as regularly and quietly as the rest.”

REVIEW OF THE ROMANCE OF ANNE OF GEIERSTEIN,

continued from page 320,

THE plot becomes more interesting as we proceed; but, we will suspend its progress for the present, to introduce a pleasing sketch of the history of Arnold Biederman, supposed to be related by himself. "My father, count Williewald, united himself closely with the state of Unterwalden, became a citizen of the confederacy, and distinguished himself so much that he was chosen landamman of the republic. He had two sons, myself and a younger brother Albert: and possessing, as he felt himself, a species of double character, he was desirous, perhaps unwisely (if I may censure the purposes of a deceased parent,) that one of his sons should succeed him in his lordship of Geierstein, and the other support the less ostentatious, though not in my thought less honourable condition, of a free citizen of Unterwalden, possessing such influence among his equals in the canton as might be acquired by his father's merits and his own. When Albert was twelve years old, our father took us on a short excursion to Germany, where the form, pomp and magnificence, which we witnessed, made a very different impression on the mind of my brother, and on my own. What appeared to Albert the consummation of earthly splendour, seemed to me a weary display of tiresome and useless ceremonials. Our father explained his purpose, and offered to me, as his eldest son, the large estate belonging to Geierstein, reserving such a portion of the most fertile ground as might make my brother one of the wealthiest citizens in a district where competence is esteemed wealth. The tears gushed from Albert's eyes- And must my brother,' he said, ⚫be a noble count, honoured and followed by vassals and attendants, and I a home spun peasant among the grey-bearded shepherds of Unterwalden? No, my father, I respect your will, but I will not

VOL. X

sacrifice my own rights. Geierstein is a fief held of the empire, and the laws entitle me to my equal half of the lands. If my brother be count of Geierstein, I am not the less count Albert of Geierstein; and I will appeal to the emperor, rather than that the arbitrary will of one ancestor though he be my father, shall cancel in me the rank and rights which I have derived from a hundred.' My father was greatly incensed.-Go,' he said, 'proud boy, give the enemy of thy country a pretext to interfere in her affairs-appeal to the will of a foreign prince from the pleasure of thy father. Go, but never again look me in the face, and dread my eternal malediction.' Albert was about to reply with vehemence, when I entreated him to be silent and hear me speak. I had, I said, all my life loved the mountain better than the plain; had been more pleased to walk than to ride, more proud to contend with shepherds in their sports than with nobles in the lists, and happier in the village dance than among the feasts of the German nobles. Let me, therefore,' said I, "be a citizen of the republic of Unterwalden; you will relieve me of a thousand cares; and let my brother Albert wear the coronet and bear the honours of Geierstein." After some farther discussion, my father was at length contented to adopt my proposal, in order to obtain the object which he had so much at heart. Albert was declared heir of his castle and his rank, by the title of count Albert of Geierstein; and I was placed in possession of these fields and fertile meadows amidst which my house is situated, and my neighbours call me Arnold Biederman.'

And if Biederman,' said a merchant who listened to the story, ' means, as I understand the word, a man of worth, candour, and generosity, I know none on whom the epithet could be so justly conferred."

Having already noticed a scene in which Margaret of Anjou appears, we now extract the well-drawn character of her father René, count of Anjou. A cautious approach to the chimney, that is, the favourite walk of the king, who is described by Shakspeare as bearing

the style of king of Naples, Of both the Sicilies, and Jerusalem, Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman, gave Arthur the perfect survey of his majesty in person. He saw an old man, with locks and beard, which, in amplitudeand whiteness, nearly rivaled those of the ›

3 c

envoy from Schwitz, but with a fresh and ruddy colour in his cheek, and an eye of great vivacity. His dress was showy to a degree almost inconsistent with his years; and his step, not only firm but full of alertness and vivacity, while occupied in traversing the short and sheltered walk, which he had chosen rather for comfort than for privacy, showed juvenile vigour, still animating an aged frame. The old king carried his tablets, and a pencil in his hand, seeming totally abstracted in his own thoughts, and indifferent to being observed by several persons from the public street beneath his elevated promenade. Of these, some, from their dress and manners, seemed themselves troubadours; for they held in their hands rebecks, rotes, small portable harps, and other indications of their profession. Such appeared to be stationary, as if engaged in observing, and recording their remarks on the meditations of their prince. Other passengers, bent on their own more serious affairs, looked up to the king as to some one whom they were accustomed to see daily, but never passed without doffing their bonnets, and expressing, by a suitable obeisance, a respect and affection towards his person, which appeared to make up, in cordiality of feeling, what it wanted in deep and solemn deference. René, in the mean while, was apparently unconscious both of the gaze of such as stood still, or the greeting of those who passed on, his mind seeming altogether engrossed with the apparent labour of some arduous task in poetry or music. He walked fast or slow as best suited the progress of composition. At times he stopped to mark hastily down on his tablets something which seemed to occur to him as deserving of preservation; at other times he dashed out what he had written, and flung down the pencil as if in a sort of despair. On these occasions, the Sibylline leaf was carefulled picked up by a beautiful page, his only attendant, who reverently observed the first suitable opportunity of restoring it to his royal hand. The same youth bore a viol, on which, at a signal from his master, he occasionally struck a few musical notes, to which the old king listened, now with a soothed and satisfied air, now with a discontented and anxious brow. At times, his enthusiasm rose so high, that he even hopped and skipped, with an activity which his years did not promise; at other times his motions were extremely slow,

and occasionally he stood still like one wrapped in the deepest and most anxious meditation. When he chanced to look on the group which seemed to watch his motions, and who ventured even to salute him with a murmur of applause, it was only to distinguish them with a friendly and good-humored nod; a salutation with which, likewise, he failed not to reply to the greetings of the occasional passengers, when his earnest attention to his task, whatever it might be, permitted him to observe them."

A character of a very different kind equally displays the author's skill in portraiture. It is that of a German executioner." A faint stream of light through one of the numerous and narrow slits, or shot-holes, with which the walls were garnished, fell directly upon the person and visage of a tall swarthy man, seated in what, but for the partial illumination, would have been an obscure corner of this evil-boding apartment. His features were regular, and even handsome, but of a character peculiarly stern and sinister. This person's dress was a cloak of scarlet; his head was bare, and surrounded by shaggy locks of black, which time had partly grizzled. He was busily employed in furbishing and burnishing a broad twohanded sword of a peculiar shape, and was so deeply engaged in his task, that he started as the heavy door opened with a jarring noise; and the sword, escaping from his hold, rolled on the stone floor with a heavy clash. Ha! Scharfgerichter,' said the knight, as he entered the folter-kammer, thou art preparing for thy duty?' 'It would ill become your excellency's servant,' answered the man, in a harsh, deep tone, to be found idle. But the prisoner is not far off, as I can judge by the fall of my sword, which infallibly announces the presence of him who shall feel its edge.'-The prisoners are at hand, Francis,' replied the governor;

but thy omen has deceived thee for once. They are fellows for whom a good rope will suffice; and thy sword drinks only noble blood.'-The worse for Francis Steinernherz,' replied the official in scarlet; 'I trusted that your excellency, who have ever been a bountiful patron, should this day have made me noble '—

6

legally won, as well as another. Nay, do not stare on me thus. If one of my profession shall do his grim office on nine men of noble birth with the same weapon, and with a single blow to each patient, hath he not a right to his freedom from taxes and to his nobility by patent? So says the law,' said Sir Archibald ; but rather more in scorn than seriously, I should judge, since no one was ever known to claim the benefit of it.'-The prouder boast for him,' said the functionary, that shall be the first to demand the honors due to a sharp sword and a clean stroke. I, Francis Steinernherz, will be the first noble of my profession, when I shall have despatched one more knight of the empire.'-Thou hast been ever in my service, hast thou not?' demanded Hagenbach. Under what other master,' replied the executioner, could I have enjoyed such constant practice? I have executed your decrees on condemned sinners since I could swing a scourge, lift a crow-bar, or wield this trusty weapon; and who can say I ever failed of my first blow, or needed to deal a second? Tristrem of the Hospital, and his famous assistants, Petit André and Trois Eschelles, are novices compared with me, in the use of the noble and knightly sword. Marry, I should be ashamed to match myself with them in the field-practice with bowstring and dagger; these are no feats worthy of a Christian man who would rise to honor and nobility.'-Thou art a fellow of excellent address, and I do not deny it,' replied Hagenbach. But it cannot be -I trust it cannot be—that when noble blood is becoming scarce in the land, and proud churls are lording it over knights and barons, I myself should have caused so much to be spilled.'—'I will number the patients to your excellency by name and title,' said Francis, drawing out a scroll of parchment, and reading with a commentary as he went on:- There was count William of Elvershoe-he was my assay-piece, a sweet youth, and died most like a Christian.' I remember-he courted my mistress,' said Sir Archibald. 'He died on St. Jude's, in the year of grace 1455,' said the executioner.-Go on-but name no dates,' said the governor. Sir Miles of Stockenburg

He drove off my cattle,' observed his excellency. Sir Louis of Riesenfeldcontinued the executioner. He made love to my wife,' commented the governor.

"The three jung-herrn of Lammerburgyou made their father, the count, childless in one day.'-'And he made me landless,' said Sir Archibald; so that account is settled. Thou needest read no farther," he continued; I admit thy record, though it is written in letters somewhat of the reddest. I had counted these three young gentlemen as one execution.' You did me the greater wrong,' said Francis; they cost three good blows of this good sword.'- Be it so, and God be with their souls,' said Hagenbach. But thy ambition must go to sleep for a while, Scharfgerichter; for the stuff that came hither to-day is for dungeon and cord, or perhaps a touch of the rack or strappado-there is no honour to win on them.'-' The worse luck mine,' said the executioner. I had dreamed so surely that your honour had made me noble; and then the fall of my sword!'- Take a bowl of wine and forget your auguries.'

"Some cars were now joined together, to support a platform or scaffold which had been hastily constructed of planks. On this was placed a chair, on which sat a tall man, with his head, neck, and shoulders bare, the rest of his body clothed in bright armour. His countenance was as pale as death; yet young Philipson recognised the hard-hearted governor, Sir Archibald von Hagenbach. He appeared to be bound to the chair. On his right, and close beside him, stood the priest of St. Paul's, muttering prayers, with his breviary in his hand, while on his left, and somewhat behind the captive, appeared a tall man, attired in red, and leaning with both hands on a naked sword. Soon the priest drew back, the executioner stepped forward, the sword was brandished, the blow was struck, and the victim's head rolled on the scaffold. A general acclamation and clapping of hands, like that by which a crowded theatre approves some well-graced performer, followed this feat of dexterity. the headless corpse shot streams from the arteries, which were drunk up by the sawdust that strewed the scaffold, the executioner gracefully presented himself alternately at the four corners of the stage, modestly bowing, as the multitude greeted him with cheers of approbation. Nobles,

While

a

knights, gentlemen of free-born blood, and good citizens,' he said, who have assisted at this act of high justice, I pray you to bear me witness that this judgement hath been executed after the form of the sentence, at one blow, and without stroke missed or repeated.' The acclamations were reiterated. Long live our Scharfgerichter Steinernherz, and many tyrant may he do his duty on!'-' Noble friends,' said the executioner, with the deepest obeisance, I have yet another word to say, and it must be a proud one.God be gracious to the soul of this good and noble knight, Sir Archibald. was the patron of my youth, and my guide to the path of honour. Eight steps have I made toward freedom and

He

nobility on the heads of free-born knights and nobles, who have fallen by his authority and command; and the ninth, by which I have attained it, is upon his own, in grateful memory of which I will expend this purse of gold, which but an hour since he bestowed on me, in masses for his soul. Gentlemen, noble friends, and now my equals, La Ferette has lost a nobleman and gained one. Our Lady be gracious to the departed knight, and bless and prosper the progress of Stephen Steinernherz von Blutsacker, now free and noble of right!' With that he took the feather out of the cap of the deceased, which, soiled with the blood of the wearer, lay near his body upon the scaffold, and, putting it into his own official bonnet, received the homage of the crowd in loud huzzas, which were partly in earnest, partly in ridicule of such an unusual transformation."

ARE WE RUINED?
MR. EDITOR,

I WISH to address you on this alarming subject. This is a point which is fre

quently disputed among politicians. It might be supposed that such a dispute might be easily settled; for ruin must be glaring in its aspect, and unequivocal in its effects. We do not at present feel these effects. We admit that the majority of the people are poor, poorer perhaps than at any former period in this century; but still we may be poor without being ruined. There is an elasticity in our nation, which precludes an absolute prostration of power and strength. We may seem to fall, but we trust that we shall rise again.

"Good unexpected, evil unforeseen,

Appear by turns, as fortune shifts the scene.
Some, rais'd aloft, come tumbling down amain.
And fall so hard, they bound and rise again."

Our rulers certainly are not so well qualified for their task as they ought to be. Their leader, in strong terms, confessed his insufficiency, but he now seems to think that a little practice has made him a perfect minister. He has carried into effect one scheme which required all That it may have a good effect we sinhis dashing boldness to bring it forward. cerely hope; but time alone will prove its applicability to the emergency which

other respects, the premier has done is supposed to have called for it. In nothing. He has suffered the ass of Portugal to kick the British lion; he has not settled the affairs of Greece; he has not endeavoured to redress the "crying grievances" of a patient and loyal community: Yet we hope that another session displaying his good sense and his pawill give him a better opportunity of triotism. We are not entirely ruined; our prospect may be gloomy, but it is not absolutely dark, for we can see through the gloom. While we thus wait for a better state of affairs, let us comfort ourselves like the author of the poem of Brunswick, who says,