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June 9, I860] The Leader and Saturday An...
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LADY MOKGAJS".* A MONG the changes that ...
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her J?rC«Ll«, ami a Word to horValum.nia...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Hayes's Aectic Boat Journey* Arctic Lite...
following gloomy night , we must refer the reader to the work itself . ¦ ¦ ¦ , ., . We have no space to pursue the narrative in its connexions . Our readers' must imagine :-that our adventurers have left Cape Alexander whole leagues behind them , and that now there are " troublesome ice-field ' s in sight ; water—a great wide waste of swelling waters—was all around " , them . Shortlived ,. however , was their felicity . Fortitude and indomitable will were yet required . Snow-storms and snow-drifts combined to try the patience and courage of officers and men . Bravely they stood the test . They Jiad great difficulty in shooting the fox—the animal was so shy ; and the same was the case with the seal and the walrus , so that they could not be captured . The materials for fire , also , were with difficulty obtained . And how without fire should they obtain water , for they hud to depend on melting the snow or ice ? Twenty miles above Cape Parry , we find them visiting a colony of Esquimaux , and rejoicing in their hospitality . The settlement consisted of two stone huts , twenty yards apart ! It seemed more fitted for the dwelling-place of wild animals than for the home of human beings . Around" it was a wilderness of rocks , and snow , and ice . The description of the place and its inhabitants is most interesting . We now come to the 27 th September , when a fresh anxiety awaited them . The summer gone , winter coming , the hills covered with snow , the valleys filled with drift , the streams » U dried up , the sea shrouded in its gloomy mantle;—night , the long arctic nightwas setting in . ¦ " Already the sun was beneath the horizon during the far greater part of each twenty-four hours , and in a short time he would sink to rise no more until February . " And they were without any preparation for the long winter darkness , with scarcely two weeks' provisions remaining ! They proceeded to build a hut , which they constructed in the crevice of a rock . But the shelter was incomplete ; for the storm raged for days together . But on the 6 th October , the weather mended ; and their spirits became more cheerful as the sun brightened . Nevertheless , their distresses intensified;—but their hut was " providentially-discovered by Esquimaux . Their presence , however , led to a peril in regard to our author , from which he scarcely escaped . He was attacked by their pack of tlurteen hungry dogs , and owed his deliverance to an incident which partakes of the marvellous . These dogs are reclaimed wolves—and their nature is altogether wolfish . Two ¦ weeks ' . famine followed this adventure , together with the necessity -of breaking -up their boat for fuel : The Esquimaux had them at their mercy , and were inclined to behave treacherously . These people ~ believe in the migration of souls , of which" fact a curious instance is given ; and also in witchcraft . We must hasten to a conclusion . The Esquimaux were propitiated by the gifts which the party could make . Needles , in particular , were welcome to the women , who found them a wonderful improvement over the coarse bone instrument which they had previously used ; but their cupidity was excited , and our party of explorers must have fallen n sacrifice to it , but that the cunning and courage of the savage is unequal to the contest with the prestige that defends the civilized man . Mr . Hayes and his companions were , however , reduced to the direst of extremities , when the repentant Esquimaux again came to their relief . Provisions once more became abundant ; and we have even the description of a feast , which is exciting , and somewhat instructive ; for during it the author possessed himself of some Esquimaux traditions , which assumed"the shape of astronomical fables , some of which are not without their grace . But this relief was only temporary— -all the old annoyances returned / and preparations were made for'leaving their refuge in Booth Bay . Here new difficulties and dangers supervened , trials too severe for human nature ., and resulting in unconsciousness . Among the phenomena described are the following , of a psychological and subjective character : — " I looked on every side with a yearning for something outward to lighten the heavy weight which oppressed my spirits ; for darker times , and times of greater responsibility , I knew were near at hand ; but desolation and the silence ofdeath were every where around me ; and better than ever before , better probably than ever again , I felt what it was to depend upon oneself and . God . . Then Ciime a reaction which will be readily understood by the intelligent reader . I arose from the rock upon which I hud been seated , and again fixed my eyes upon the sea . The stern silence which hud been almost maddening , became now a source ol inspiration . In tjho reflux of thought which followed , I forgot the cold moon , the leaden Rturs , the frowning cliffs , the desolate wasto , the chilly glacier ; forgot my loneliness ; and I was buck again m the world of life and power and act ion . The frozen sen grew into a fertile plain ; tho hnnnnooked ridges were resolved into walls and hedges ; ami a southern panorama of sunny fields spread itself before me . A crack which meandered to tho south-west , which had recently opened with the tide , and from which were curling up wreaths of " frost-smoke , " favoured the illusion . Clusters of httlo hummocks suggested herds of cattle and Hocks of shoep . Larger massos were converted into trees ; and a long bank of snow , whose verticnHvnll threw n dark shadow on the plain , was the . umrtfin of a dense forent . Further away , a pinnacled berg became a" church with spire and belfry ; another wore the appearance of a rnineit castle ; while still further to tho south-west , where the stream ' seemed to discharge itself into tho ocean , stood a giant fort , under whoBO brititliiifr gnus lay a fleet of ntutoly ships : " Around all that 1 saw were clustered home associations , ana objects which , years before , had siiggeated to my boyish mind the serious purposes of life ; mid I turned away with renewed stroujjth to fight tho battle through , and with renewed determination to
behold again those scenes which my imagination had grouped together on the desolate sea . " This may serve as an example of our author ' s style , as well as a most significant instance of philosophical observation . It is , indeed , a fact of the utmost value , and Mr . Hayes has done well to draw attention to it . But we must hasten to the end . Having effected their escape from the Esquimaux , which was only done by narcotising their visitors , and seizing their dogs and sledges ; the measure resulted in the subjection of the Esquimaux , who afterwards aided in their flight . The whole of the narrative abounds in interest . In safety at last they reached the brig , and were received , in an almost senseless state , by Dr . Kane at the gangway . This book will well reward perusal ; the reader will find it more stimulating than a romance . Mr . Hayes , however , cautions us against these adventures being taken na normal characteristics of Arctic travel . " The case of the boat-journey of 1854 is , " he says , " exceptional ; " and he ' is willing to go forth again , being convinced that "the way has been gradually prepared for an ultimate success , which is certain . "
June 9, I860] The Leader And Saturday An...
June 9 , I 860 ] The Leader and Saturday Analyst . 547
Lady Mokgajs".* A Mong The Changes That ...
LADY MOKGAJS " . * A MONG the changes that time brings , none are more startling than the difference in the estimates of public characters at different dates . The statesman whom one age applauds to the skies , is voted a sorry rogue by advanced enlightenment . The remark holds good also in the . case of literary men . No one in his day and generation was oftener on the lips of his contemporaries than the late Mr . Croker . Tadpole and Taper were always quoting him . " Have you read Mgbys last article ? " was considered a very passable remark in days gone by . Alas ! for the transitory nature of all human institutions . Since our Right Honourable was wont to hold up a " mis-spelling to the indignation of an outraged public , " what changes have taken place ! A generation has arisen ignorant of Joseph Croker ' s feuds with Keats , Madame D'Arbiuy , and Macaubiy on matters of history . In like manner , his elaborate and systematic ehaff ' . of poor Lady Morgan would have been forgotten , had iiot Mr . Fitzpatriek arisen , and shown him up in the book before us . We cannot compliment Mr . Fitzpatriek on his labour ol love . He must bear with ; us while we speak our mind . It demands some pluck to criticise a * Irishman , but the Leader knows ho fear ; iso . . ¦ we proceed . Mr . Fitzpatriek has clearly proved-that tliere exists - another "fighting family" in the Emerald Isle . We have all j of us heard of _ the " fighting Fitzgeralds ; " this book introduces ns to the fighting Fitzpatricks . It consists of an attack on lories in general , and " " Mr . Croker in particular . Lady Morgams all " my fancypainted '¦ her , ' - ' , and who daresmeddle witlune ? _ ^ Sydney ' Owenson was born in 1775 . Her father was one ° ™ e most eccentric of men . Educated at a hedge-school , —first a C . itholie then a Protestant , he began life as steward to one bir . Joan Browne- but he took but small account of his stewardship , and we shortly find him giving way to his passion of acting , and ^ om ^ on the stage . Some interesting notices of the Irish stage as it existed at the close of the last century follow . An animated discussion as to whether Lady Morgan was ever on the stage follows . Wo learn that when a mere child , she sang admirably , aud evinced considerabl ^ talents 4 n ^^ e ^ arioiis ^ ccomp hshmeiit 3 ^ yJbiMsh _ , g , o to the , lnuking _ of a popular young lady . Tr i Many allowances must be made for Lady Morgan , Her education was imperfect . Her early associates were mostly the actors and actresses performing in the different Irish theatres . Her father was as unlucky as the father of the immortal Becky tenarp . | Indeed , he was not unlike him . Substitute actor for painter , and Mr Thackeray ' s cunning portraiture would do for them equally well It appears that when Owenson was in funds he was a reckless , jovial fellow—always ready to stand treat to any of his friends : a lending borrowing bein ^—not safe , but wonderfully good-natured and agreeable . He tried all sorts of ways and means , — land-steward , actor , wine and spir it merchant : unsuccessful at all , is the result of tho summing up of Mr . Fitzpatriek . , . With such brlnying up , what could be expected of a wild lrisn -virl ? " Superficial and second-rate , she essays noval-wntmg , and fails , ' She is not , however , discouraged by her first defeat;—sue writes , and writes again . The critics let her alone . Such small trame its " St . Clair" was beneath their notice . She was more tortu mte in some of her songs . Undoubtedly she possessed the knack of song-writing . Her stanzas—patriotic and sentimental—were no sooner printed than they became popular—the test of the merits Ot BeSS . ' writing novels , plays , and poems , our authoress found time to " answer" Mr . Oroker , who , by his " Favuhar Amstlea , had caused no small stir among the acting profession in Ireland . Her reply was bitter , but weak ; and her opponent was far too " cunning at fence" to be baffled by peevish couplets . Heooiitinued to strike , and his blows told terribly on her irritable and nervous temperament . : „«;«„ Throughout her cai ^^ ^ ^ ^ tion of Mr , Uigby ' a eloquence . The Qwrterlv iiWic , and the IMeraru Gazette pooh-poohed her in England ; und m bcotluntt sZZood took up P the cudgels in defence of propriety , am 1 did its best to write tho daring offender down . Tho Athencm ^^ mov ^
Her J?Rc«Ll«, Ami A Word To Horvalum.Nia...
her J ? rC « Ll « , ami a Word to horValum . niao , 'H . By WlLUAM JoilX AIT * fatiuok , J . l \ London : O . J . Skoot . 1800 .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 9, 1860, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_09061860/page/15/
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