doubtless afforded the greatest amusement to the populace of the day. The following specimen reminds us of the cries of the London apprentices in the reigns of the Edwards and Henrys. The tavern-crier Raoulet, is standing at the door of his master's tap, proclaiming, as was then the custom, the goodness of the wine :'Here," he cries, "is wine newly-tapped. Full pint, full barrel. Honest wine, drinkable, mellow and full. Lively as a squirrel in the wood. Not rotten or sour after taste. Wine dry and light, running fair from the lees. Clear as a sinner's tear. Fit for the throat of a jolly fellow, and no other ought to drink it. See how it devours its foam; how it mounts, sparkles, and hisses. Ever so little on the tongue, gives the taste of a famous wine in the heart."

Adam de la Halle, known as the hunchback of Arras, was one of the most popular French dramatists of the fourteenth century. His works, which were written in the Norman dialect, abound in quaint fancies, and display much frankish cunning, and fantastic gaiety, intermingled with simple and graceful pastorals. Among these Robin and Marion; and the Marriage of Adam, or, the Bower; were the delight of the good citizens of Arras. The characters of this piece are seventeen in number: Adam de la Halle, the author, Maistre Henry, his father, a mercer, physician, innkeeper, monk, fool, and some portly merchants of the city, with women, fairies, and the common people. It is the month of May, the season in which the fairies make their annual visit. | A bower, whence the name of the play, has been built for their reception outside the gates of the town, where a knot of citizens are waiting the arrival of the sprightly visitors. The piece opens with a malicious verbal castigation of the most notable inhabitants of Arras, by the author, who enters, dressed as a travelling student, in brown cape and cassock, and approaching the group of burgesses collected near the bower. "Do ye know, sirs," he asks, "why I have changed my garb? I took a wife; but now I return to the clergy; I am going to revive my ancient dreams, but first wish to take leave of ye all. Don't laugh: I am not so much taken with Arras and its pleasures as to desire to renounce study for them. Since heaven has given me some genius, it is time to set myself to work; I have too long emptied my purse in this place."

Here one of the bystanders inquires what is to become of his young wife Marie, and reminds him that his reflections should have been made before marriage. "By my faith," replies Adam, "that is talking like an oracle; but who can be wise in youth? Love seized me in the first heat; just in the green and ardent season, when it has the most lively season. No one, now-a-days, thinks of what is best, but of what best answers his desires. The summer was sweet and serene, green and flowery, gladdened by the song of little birds; I was seated beneath the branches of tall trees in the wood, near a fountain flowing over pearly sand, when the vision of her who is now my wife, appeared to me; now she seems pale and yellow." He then gives a long and minute description of his Marie, as she first charmed him. Such was the effect of her presence, that he confesses: "I lost all empire over my reason, and was happy only when, instead of clerk, I became husband." He concludes with a farewell to the city. "Arras, Arras, city of lawsuits, hatred and treasons. Farewell, a hundred thousand times and more. I go elsewhere to study the evangel."

As Adam is about to go, comes his old father, Maistre Henry, and greatly applauds his resolution: "Good son," he says, "I pity thee for having lost thy time for a wife; now be wise and depart." But the young man reminds his father that he cannot live in the metropolis unless provided with money. "One can't live at Paris for nothing." The father replies, that he has no money,

(1) A similar custom prevailed in this country: in many parishes Robin Hood's Bowers were set up on certain holidays in the spring.

and is besides, old, infirm, and full of aches and pains. A physician, who hears these complaints exclaims, "Well know I of what you are ill; it is a disease called avarice," and goes on unsparingly to enumerate all the citizens of Arras afflicted with the same malady. Other personages enter and take part in a dispute that arises out of the physician's censorious remarks, and in the midst of it comes a priest bearing the relics of St. Acarius, on which the disputants cease their quarrel, and join in doing homage, and paying their contributions to the sacred remains. Among others, an idiot presses forward; but, after he has touched the bones, utters greater follies than before, under which, however, are concealed a series of sarcasms against the loose manners of the clergy. The fairies next make their appearance, followed by Hellequin, the prototype of the modern Harlequin. Riquet, a citizen, and Adam, prepare a table for the three fairy queens, Arsile, Maglore, and Morgane; but, unfortunately, no knife has been laid for Maglore, whose anger is greatly excited by the neglect. Morgane, on the contrary, well satisfied, proposes to reward the preparers of the feast; for Riquet she wishes plenty of money, and for Adam, that he may be the most amorous clerk in the world. Arsile promises that the latter shall be jovial, and a good writer of songs, and that Riquet shall buy all his merchandize cheap, and at good profit. But Maglore has not forgotten her anger; she wishes that Riquet may never have a hair on the crown of his head, and for Adam, who boasts of going to the schools at Paris, that he may do nothing but stay in Arras, and forget himself in the arms of his young and loving wife. The fairies then give a specimen of their supernatural skill, and take their departure, singing a motet, and followed by Hellequin chanting "Say, fits my hat well? A drinking scene, without which no drama at that period would have been complete, ensues-the monk, with his saintly relics, is unmercifully jeered, and the sitting terminates in a boisterous chorus, "Aia sat on a high tower." After which the crowd disperses; each one returns to his own home: and thus ends this first specimen of early French comedy.

In London, the company of parish clerks were for a long period the only performers. They acted before Richard II. and his queen in 1390; and, as recorded by Maitland, again in 1409, "with great applause, for eight days successively, at Skinner's Well, near Clerkenwell, a play concerning the Creation of the World, at which were present most of the nobility and gentry of the kingdom." We have already instanced some of the mutations of the dramatic art: pageants, morricedances, mimes, mummeries, and Christmas carols, are among the more prominent changes. The readers of Scott's novels are acquainted with his description of the Abbot of Unreason and his revels. Of a similar character were the festivals of the Boy Bishop in England, and of the Ass in France. In 1539 Sir David Lyndsay wrote his famous play, The Three Estates, in which the ceremonies and superstitions of the Church are severely criticised and condemned. Religious plays, however, had not ceased to be represented in Scotland so late as 1600; in which year, by the exertions of the Presbyterians, they were forbidden at Perth as a "dishonour of the haill toun."

In the sixteenth century the dramatic art made further progress. The first regular English tragedy, Ferrex and Porrex, was written in 1561; it contains several passages of great power and beauty. In 1575 appeared, what was long considered to be the first comedy, entitled, Gammer Gurton's Needle: late researches, however, give the precedence, by some years, to another play, Ralph Roister Doister; a piece full of point and humour, which remains the carliest specimen of English comedy. From this we pass by a succession of writers to the historical plays by which Shakspeare rendered his name immortal-and bring our remarks to a close.

A LAND JOURNEY ROUND THE WORLD.'

AFTER observing the various matters of interest in the Indian territory, Sir George Simpson passed into the Oregon district, or, as it may be called, the Columbia region. Most of the critical debates between Great Britain and the United States have been terminated since the voyage of our traveller; and we must, therefore, pass over the arguments bearing upon the claims of the two countries to this territory. It may, however, be observed, that the region was brought under the influence of English civilisation by the North-western Fur Company, which coalesced in 1821 with the Hudson's Bay association, and thus the whole district came under the control of the latter body. It is a singular illustration of the influence of commerce, that the greater part of North America has been laid open to civilisation by the fur-trade. That the sale of the skins of certain small animals should be the means of changing the destinies of half a continent, does not seem surprising to us, who know the mighty results accomplished by the merchant's footstep in other regions; but it is, nevertheless, a wonderful fact in the history of the

world.

them know what I have seen; Indians are fools, and makes the ship to go, but I cannot see what makes the know nothing. I can see that the iron machinery iron machinery itself to go."

Bras Croche, though very intelligent, and like all the Crees, partially civilized, was, nevertheless, so full of doubt and wonder, that he would not leave the vessel till he got a certificate to the effect, that he had been on board a ship which needed neither paddlers nor sails. Though not one of his countrymen would understand a word of what was written, yet the most sceptical among them would not dare to question the truth of a story which had a document in its favour. A savage stands nearly as much in awe of paper, pen, and ink, as of steam itself; and, if he once puts his cross to any writing, which such writing is supposed to embody or to sanche has rarely been known to violate the engagement tion. To him, the very look of black and white is a powerful medicine.

We must now bear in mind that the Russian government has not expended all its care on the development of trade, but has also provided for the spiritual interests of its people; a bishop, with fifteen priests and the governor had completed his examination of Sittra other clergy being placed in this remote spot. When and its resources, he returned to Vancouveur, and, immediately set sail for St. Francisco, on the coast of California. To follow him through this route, would require an undue extension of these articles; but, we cannot help noticing the agreement between the prediction of Sir George Simpson on the fate of California, and its seizure by the forces of the United States, during the present war against Mexico, "English, in some sense or other of the word," says he, "the richest portions of California must become; either Great Britain will introduce her well-regulated freedom of all classes and colours, or the people of the United States will inundate the country with their own peculiar mixture of helpless bondage and lawless insubordination." The corruption of the government, the rapacity of the officials, and the general insubordination of all classes, were forced upon the traveller's attention at every step, and displayed themselves amidst the symbols of republicanism. With such proofs of national demoralization, it was impossible not to see the gloomy issue lowering over the light-hearted, indolent Californians. famed Sandwich islands, memorable for the death of Leaving this country the governor sailed for the farCook, and remarkable for the indications they afford of fierce volcanic agencies once working in those homes of the Pacific. One fact, mentioned by Sir George Simp

Sir George, at last, reached Fort Vancouveur, a station on the Columbia, after a journey of five thousand miles across the widest part of the American continent, through lakes and up rapid rivers, in which twelve weeks of constant labour tested the physical powers and patience of the party. Vancouveur was an important point in this journey, as from it the governor made first a trip to the Russian settlement at Sittra, and next to the coast of California; after which the determined tourist sailed for the Sandwich Islands; and, having satisfied his curiosity in these fair isles, again returned to Sittra. These voyages to and fro may not seem to be comprehended in the plan of a journey round the world, being rather a deflection from the direct course; but, as more than half the first volume is occupied in these trips, we must not omit some notice of the important places brought before us by this portion of Sir George Simpson's work. The journey to Sittra, we may be certain, was not the result of mere curiosity, for that settlement being the head-quarters of the Russian fur-trade in America, was a place of importance in the eyes of the governor of the great British Company, especially as he holds the opinion, that England and Russia are destined to absorb the whole power of the world. If the reader will examine the north-west coast of Ame-son, suggests the probable origin of the term Pacific, as applied to that vast ocean which stretches for ten rica in lat. 57o, he will see a small island forming one thousand miles across the globe. During a run of two of the group once known as George the Third's Archi- thousand three hundred miles the breeze blew with so pelago, but now called Sittra, or, New Archangel. The settlement was founded in 1804, by the Russian Bara-gentle and agreeable a force that neither studding nor sky sails were once taken in. "If it was under similar noff, and is now the centre of the Czar's influence along circumstances, as is said to have been the case, that that coast. Thousands of seals, otters, beavers, and sea- Magellan, the first European that traversed this ocean, horses, are annually slaughtered to support the constant and probably the first navigator that spanned it at a demand for furs and ivory; and, as twenty thousand teeth stretch, made his way from South America to the of the sea-horse are required yearly, and each horse pro- Philippines, he could not probably have bestowed upon duces but two, ten thousand of these large animals die it a name more appropriate and expressive than that of yearly to supply the ivory trade alone in these remote the Pacific. Nor did his individual experience differ seas. The surprise manifested at the sight of a steam- from the general fact. Excepting in its most northern vessel, and the superstitious awe in which a piece of and more southern latitudes, this boundless sea is ordiwriting is held, prove how little the natives of these narily so calm that open boats may cross it with safety, regions are conversant with the resources of that civi- and in fact, its least sheltered portion, lying between lized world, now pressing upon their most secluded the Polynesian islands and Spanish America, and almost equalling the breadth of the Atlantic, has actually been so traversed, Captain Hinckley having carried a number occasion,) in an undecked vessel from California to of horses, (rather ugly customers by-the-bye, for the Woatooi, one of the Sandwich Islands. It is doubtless this characteristic tranquillity of the Pacific Ocean which has been the means, under Providence, of peopling almost every islet that floats on its bosom." Four of

homes.

After the arrival of the emigrants from Red River,

their guide, a Cree of the name of Bras Croche, took a short trip in the Beaver. When asked what he thought of her, "Don't ask me," was his reply; "I cannot speak; my friends will say that I tell lies when I let

(1) Concluded from page 266.

the Sandwich Islands send up high peaks which are seen far off at sea by the distant mariner; two of these volcanic mountains rise from the island of Elawaii to the height of thirteen thousand feet, being visible at a distance of more than fifty leagues. This strengthens the supposition that the whole group must have been seen by the Spaniards who navigated those seas in the 16th and 17th centuries; indeed proofs exist of an intercourse between the natives and the Spaniards at a distant period.

the island, the births for a year were but sixty-one, whilst the deaths in the same period were 132. In the most cultivated part of another island it was found that among 5,541 adults there were only "sixty-eight men and sixty-five women who had more than two children each." Some ascribe this diminution to the trade in sandalwood, which was sold to the idolators at China to burn as a fragrant offering in their temples. The labours undergone in procuring this from the almost inaccessible mountain heights on which it grew, destroyed hundreds of the natives, unaccustomed to the changes of temperature consequent upon such pursuits. But this cause cannot be operating now, for the divinities of the Chinese have long since consumed the fragrant wood; the natives, therefore, no longer die in the wild solitudes of the sandal mountains. Two other causes of depopulation are still at work; one the emigration of the men to other regions, a thousand being supposed to leave the islands every year for the coasts of South America, and in the whaling ships. This, by itself, would sufficiently explain the decrease in the population; some, however, bring in another agency, and ascribe to the Sandwich Islands' women so heinous a neglect of their children as must fearfully increase the waste of infant life. The language of Sir George Simpson is severe on this head. "Speaking of the mass, the females of the Sandwich Islands are worthy representa tives of those of their own sex, who, after Cook's death, witnessed with indifference from the ships the slaughter of their countrymen and friends. To say nothing of such things as infanticide, the mothers of the Sandwich Islands indulge in the lesser abominations of exchanging children, and of allowing pet puppies to share Nature's food with their own offspring. So far from wondering at the numerical deficiency of the rising generation, we ought rather to be surprised that there is a rising generation at all in a country where women regard their own infants and those of others with equal affection, and lavish on either far less of their fondness than on the progeny of one of the lower animals." What a terbeen in the habit of regarding those islands as the most favoured scenes of the Christian missionaries' labour ! We cannot avoid suspecting that Sir George Simpson is far too sweeping in his assertions respecting the present moral state of the women, and that he has rather drawn his description from things as they were twenty years ago. If his account be true with respect to the existing condition of the Sandwich Islands, then have our congratulations been too carly and indiscriminate. Our author does, however, intimate his hope of the rising of better times. "The woman have exhibited,” he says, "far brighter and more numerous proofs of that change of heart which is the single end and aim of pure Christianity." Still, he cannot help sounding again the knell of the whole population at some approaching period. "Viewed by itself, civilisation has been, and still continues to be, a canker worm to prey on the population of the group. There is something truly deplorable in the reflection that in this Archipelago civilisation is sweeping the aborigines from the land of their fathers, without placing in their stead others better than themselves. If there be any truth in the preceding paragraphs, the principal measure for preserving the native population appears to be the elevation of the female character. Now, there are are only two instruments by which this elevation can possibly be effected— Christianity and public opinion." It is a sad scene in the history of human progress when a newly discovered people, instead of being added to the old family of nations, is gradually annihilated by a host of sinister influences. We may hope, however, that the natives will soon become so completely identified with the English race, that their decay may be arrested before it passes the critical point.

The once active craters of the Sandwich group are all extinct, save one on Mount Loa, which still utters most significant hints of the powers once raging in these beautiful seas. Civilisation may now be said to have fixed her home firmly in these islands; whither science, commerce, and christianity have entered from Europe. A regular government is established, consisting of what we call king, lords, and commons, the nobles being fifteen chiefs selected by the king, forming therefore a species of elective peerage; whilst the commons consist of seven representatives chosen by all the inhabitants of Hawaii. Those, then, who are enamoured of universal suffrage might find some gratification from a residence in Hawaii. For the satisfaction of some ambitious ladies in England we must add, that nearly one half of the Hawaiian house of lords consists of the lady peeresses. In the whole group are thirteen islands, of which four alone claim the attention of the navigator, either from their population or the convenient position of their harbours. Hawaii, formerly called Owhyhee, where Cook perished, is the largest, measuring a hundred miles in length and about eighty in breadth where widest; the remains of an extinct crater, or rather volcanic lake, twenty-four miles in circumference, are visible in this former home of subterranean fires. The inhabitants are estimated at about 40,000, being chiefly found on the narrow girdle of land round the coast, for the dry lava-like interior presents few attractions to settlers. Mowee, the island next in size, is about fortyeight miles long, and twenty-eight miles wide. Woahoo, having a surface nearly equal to that of Mowee, is im-rible picture is this for us to contemplate, who have portant to the navigator on account of being the seat of government, and possessing the most important harbour called Honolulee, whither nnmerous whaling ships repair for provisions and repairs. This place, the centre of civilisation for these islands, has a population of nine thousand, of which one thousand are probably English and Americans, or descended from these. Thus have been linked to Europe, by a system of commerce and christianity, these remote lands, the discovery of which, toward the close of the last century, excited the curiosity of our fathers, and may yet draw within the circle of civilisation the far-stretching groups of Polynesia. One fact in the history of these islands is rather startling, and suggests the possibility that, at some future period, the whole native population may become extinct. The number on every island appears to diminish. Vancouveur, the companion of Cook, conjectured that the population had much diminished in the short period of thirteen years which had elapsed between the time of Cook and his own visit; and later observations confirm this melancholy fact in the statistics of these fair islands. A census was taken in 1832, when the population returns amounted to 130,000; four years later another enumeration was made, when the numbers were only 109,000, presenting a most singular instance of decrease, and almost forcing us to suspect some blundering in taking the census. But the same dark item is again presented by the enumeration in 1840, when the whole population was reckoned at 88,000. Even if we distrust these returns, which we have no just reason for doing, there are other circumstances pointing in the same ominous direction. The disproportion in some districts between the births and deaths, in a given period, is so great, that nothing but destruction awaits the people should the same state of things continue. Thus, in a certain part of Woahoo, the most fertile in

This amalgamation has proceeded to a great extent, and the increasing prevalence of our language must

their ancient gods from a pure disbelief, caused by intercourse with civilized people, who laughed the idolaters out of their old religion without creating a belief in a fresh system. Thus, the missionaries, on their arrival, found the land open for their operations.

tend to bind the natives more firmly to us. English is | is a singular instance of a nation of pagans discarding destined ere long to be the vernacular tongue of the group. It must advance as civilisation advances, and the more rapidly the better; for nothing else is so likely to promote that amalgamation of the European and Polynesian races, which can alone prevent the aborigines-if they are at all rescued from the decay that threatens them-from sinking into the condition of" hewers of wood, and drawers of water."

Sir George Simpson blames the missionaries for continuing to support the use of the Hawaiian language, and so raising up a barrier to a freer intercourse with the knowledge and civilisation of England. His objections seem sound; but into this point we cannot enter. Perhaps it may receive some attention from the directors of the Sandwich Island Mission. The old native dress has been in most cases laid aside, and the reader who remembers the accounts of the former savage dress-the malo, the paw, the kapa, and the war-cloaks-would be rather surprised were he to arrive suddenly in Honolulu on a Sunday, and see not only shoes and stockings, but a crowd of bonnets and parasols on their way to church. These brown ladies have a decided liking for gay attire,-a satin bonnet trimmed with lace, or a bright coloured silk dress, being especially coveted. This tendency gives the missionaries no small trouble, as they feel bound to oppose the indulgence of such luxuries. The preceding remarks, be it observed, refer principally to the dress of the women; as to the men, many of them keep to the garb of their ancestors. Some of the qualities of these Sandwich Islanders are highly estimated by those who know the people best, and Sir George Simpson, speaking of their courage, says: "They are, without exception, the most valiant of the Polynesians, being perfect heroes, for instance, in comparison with the natives of the Society Islands. In short, with their fidelity and courage combined, the Sandwich Islanders, if officered like our Eastern sepoys, would make the finest soldiers of colour in the world."

Into the disputes between the French government, the Protestant missionaries, and the natives, we cannot enter: it must, however, be noted, that Sir George Simpson found three Romish priests in Honolulu, where a bishop was shortly expected. He blames the missionaries for this result."It was they who introduced secular authority as an instrument of conversion, and sanctioned its merciless abuse. It is chiefly their inflexible austerity that has filled the (Roman) Catholic ranks;—it is their unrelenting code of manners and morals, as enforced by pecuniary penalties, that has driven the people to embrace a new faith." We must remark, in concluding this article, that the situation of the Sandwich Isles fits them to become the centre of Polynesian commerce, being on the direct route from Cape Horn to the northern parts of the Pacific, and in the path from Mexico to China, accessible to both Chinese and Japanese traders, whether going or returning; whilst their secluded position in the midst of the ocean, prevents the possibility of a rival to their prosperity. The group is also so placed as to be in the centre of the three great whaling grounds, that on the Equator, the one near Japan, and the Russian station. From 1836 to 1839, two hundred and fifty-five whalers entered the harbour of Honolulu, of which all, except five, were American or British.

He

We must now follow Sir George Simpson through a journey across the Old Continent, a track over which Mr. Murray's hand-books of travel would be of little use. When about to plunge into the wilds of Asiatic Russia, our traveller still feels perfectly at home, having no more consciousness of strangeness than if about to take a summer's trip through Cumberland. The love of the natives for excitement, finery, and scarcely, indeed, looks upon the Russians as foreigners, show, is thus hit off:-"In promenading, certain days bidding us see in the Normans the common origin of of the week take the shine out of others. For instance, the people of Queen Victoria and the subjects of the Tuesday, as every body washes every thing on Monday, Czar. Russia and England are, therefore, according to brings out the belles like so many new pins, with Sir George Simpson, two brothers, or, if the gramgowns as clean, and smooth, and stiff, as starch, and marians please, two sisters, who, having gone in opposite irons, and soap, can make them; while the fair wearers, directions to make their fortunes, meet, with surprise, that all things may be of a piece, generally embrace the on the other side of the globe. The importance of the same occasion of making their fresh wreaths and gar-view here suggested will fully justify the citation of the lands. For these reasons, Tuesday is a stranger's best following passage:opportunity for obtaining a full and complete view of the beauties of Honolulu, for, though never very prudish, yet they are now peculiarly ready to appreciate and return the compliment of being the observed of all observers. Saturday, again, has its own proper merit, inferior to Tuesday in point of show and ceremony, but superior to it in variety and intensity of excitement. On this day, little or no work is done; and all those who can get horses, gallop about from morn ing till dusk, in the town and neighbourhood, to the danger of such as are poor enough, or unfashionable enough, to walk."

The reader will not, perhaps, be surprised to find this Polynesian state possessed both of a navy and army; the former consisting, not of the old fashioned canoes beheld by Cook, but of armed decked schooners, manned by native seamen; and the later of a militia, trained in the European system. Civilisation has also taught the kings the art of extracting a fixed revenue, one item of which is a poll-tax on all above fourteen, at the rate of a dollar for a man, of half a dollar for a woman, of a quarter of a dollar for a boy, and of the eighth of a dollar for a girl." Besides this, a labour poll-tax is exacted from all the men, at the rate of six days' labour on the public works in every month.

The old paganism of these islands was formally abolished in 1819, by the king Lilo Lilo, without, strange as it may seem, adopting another system. This

"Before plunging into that colossal empire, whose length is to occupy an almost uninterrupted flightfor journey I cannot call it-of about five months, let me indulge in a brief retrospect of such portion of my wanderings as I have happily accomplished.

"I have threaded my way round nearly half the globe, traversing about two hundred and twenty degrees of longitude, and upwards of a hundred of latitude; and in this circuitous course I have spent more than a year, fully three-fourths on the land, and barely one-fourth on the ocean.

To say

"Notwithstanding all this, I have uniformly felt more at home, with the exception of my first sojourn at Sittra, than I should have felt in Calais. nothing of having always found kindred society, I have everywhere seen our race, under a great variety of circumstances, either actually or virtually invested with the attributes of sovereignty. I have seen the English citizens of a young republic, which has already doubled its original territory, without any visible or conceivable obstacle in the way of its indefinite extension; I have seen the English colonists of a conquered province, while the descendants of the first possessors, however inferior in wealth and influence, have reason to rejoice in the defeat of their fathers; I have seen the English posts that stud the wilderness from the Canadian lakes to the Pacific Ocean; I have seen the English adventurers, with that innate power which makes every indi