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February 23, 1856.] THE LE ADER. 187
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FIGS AND PIPES. Sayah ; or, Tim Courier ...
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'. • , (ftfUfr tfUvt'ti! ^cbjjv JilAVu * ¦
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BURFORD'S NEW PANORAMA. How mucli pictur...
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Lyceum Thtsatke.—The Pianoforte Makers' ...
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Covent Garden.--Professor Anderson has b...
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We regret to liear from Paris (hat M. Au...
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Transcript
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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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The Banes And The Swedes . The Danes And...
robbed Denmark of three-fourths of her dominions , and gave her in exchange the right to tax English , Swedish , and American commerce . Sweden lost nearly as much , gained only Norway , and is taxed in her own waters . The United States , which were unrepresented at the Congress , demur to the impost perse , and also on the ground that , while English cotton twist—of which nearly fifty million pounds are annually shipped to the Baltic—is taxed one per cent ., raw cotton is taxed treble that amouat / od valorem . Of the political constitution of Sweden , Mr . Scott says : — The constitution of the country invests the King with the right to declare and make war ; butby a singular contradiction , he is deprived of control over the
, necessary funds for doing so . By the fundamental la-w of the kingdom certain sums , called LiUa Kveditivet , or small credit , usually amounting to half a million dollai' 3 banco , or 41 , 6 G 6 l ., and Stora Kreditivet , or large credit , of two million dollars , or 166 , 6662 ., are voted by the Diet for annual extraordinary expenditure . The King and his council can dispose of the former on . defensive works for the country or in unforeseen expenses , but the Diet exercises the right of investigating the accounts , and holding the council responsible for any misappropriation of the funds . The larger credit , however , can only be employed in case of imminent danger of the country being involved in war , and then only after the King , by the consent of his council , has called the States together , and obtained their approbation .
Thus it appears that , although possessing a nominal , the King of Sweden has no real , power alone to enter upon an offensive \\ ar ; we therefore believe that any engagement he may make for joining the Western Powers in the present European struggle , will be on condition of a ratification by the Diet . That he would obtain such a ratification is very probable , for the Ifeeling of the Swedish people is strongly anti-Russian , while all their material interests are bound up with England . This singular ^ contradiction is no more than the English principle , that the Crown mav declare war , but that Parliament may refuse the funds if the war
be opposed to its policy . Mr . Scott argues that , byjoining England in an attack upon Russia , Sweden would have gained immense advantages—the restitution of Finland , and , " perhaps , the reversion of the Danish crown . The question of the Danish succession may , at no distant time , again imperil the general peace ; Russia , Austria , and Prussia , being parties to the existing settlement , to which the feelings of the people of Denmark are bitterly opposed . Already , in all acts of foreign policy , the Panes follow the Swedes ; Mr . Scott believes consequently , that a Swedish alliance against Russia , would have been tantamount to a league of the Baltic powers .
We have been led by Mr . Scottinto an etude on the polities of Scandinavia . We must find room , before dismissing his book , for a sketch of the Court at Stockholm :- — The doors were thrown open , and we followed the courtly train through a fine long gallery ., crowded on each side by the assembled guests . We could now see a splendid range of apartments , of which this gallery was the centre , all handsomely decorated , and having richly-painted ceilings . A line- of chandeliers hung iroui one end to the other of this noble suite , filled with thousands of burning wax caudles , the rays from which were drowaed by a flood of red and glowing light , that poured through the open windows , producing an unusual ; strange , yet beautiful'effect , to be witnessed in a high northern latitude alone under such circumstances , and at such a time of night .
Slowly we made our way towards the ball-room , which formed part of another elegant , range , extending , at right angles to the one we were traversing . By the time we reached it the dancing had commenced ,, and a hundred couples were gliding swiftly over the highly-polished parquet , in tke giddy ' mazes of the deuce temps , amongst whom the Grown Priuce was most conspicuous ; Whether the Swedes bo unaccustomed to dance upon polished floors we know not , but certain it is that on this occasion we . witnessed several very disagreeable falls , not , however , from any fault in the duncing , which was -unusually good . Tho ladies' toilettes were charming , and there were ' many among the fair Swedes who well sustained the reputation they have of being beautiful ; still , Judging from-this assembly—a good criterion—we dicl not think the female aristocracy , as a class , si handsome or so pretty as the lower order of Swedish wonaeij . In the mnnnor and bearing of the Swedish lady , however , there is nothing wanting ; she ia what the French call si grade use—that miuglLng of kindliness with grace % vhich produces fascination .
His Majesty irf a handsome man with very clark hair , black eyes , an aquiline nose , und good forehead , denoting uioro tlnui average intellect . His countenance is rathor thoughtful in expression , but the prevailing tone is bonevolent . A gentle inclination of tho head , and a slight hesitation when speaking , denote only a slight ; amount of self-esteem , whilo un unfaltering stop , an easy carriage , mid a dignified manner , givo an imposing presence to a lino person . The dancers of Stockholm , sliding to the floor , do not suggest , a picture of royal dignity . There is nothing very attractive in Mr . Scott ' s literary manner ; but his volume presents a lively and interesting account of the Baltic States , and of their social and political aspects .
February 23, 1856.] The Le Ader. 187
February 23 , 1856 . ] THE LE ADER . 187
Figs And Pipes. Sayah ; Or, Tim Courier ...
FIGS AND PIPES . Sayah ; or , Tim Courier to tin : East . By tho Author of " Soldiers and Sailors . " Chapman and Hull . A PM 3 ABANT and fanciful little volume , taking us lightly along the route to tho East , by way of Paris , Marseilles , ami the Mediterranean . It has nix Enstorn colour ; it treats of the fragrance of Eastern coffee , the softness of Eastern pillows , the beauty hidden behind . Eastern lattices , of white and purple llga . But , among the author's topics , the I 3 gs nrc the most interesting , except , perhaps , tho pipes . The fig of commerce is not tho same that grows , in incorrigible- unripeness , again at Enidbli walls ; it is small , of a pule
colour , not strong in flavour , but precious to the Sinyrniote nickers , pressers , and packers , la England it is common to say , that he who has scon liga squeezed into a drum will cat of the fruit uo more ; but Mr . Herbert Byng Ilall , —tliail . is " Say all ' s" name , we think ?—affirms the contrary . lie has Been tho ripe ilgs full from the tree , seou thorn collected , dried , packed with avyeot bay leaves in horsehair hags , placed in dry storehouses , and then heaped , with wooden ahovcla , into broad fiat baskets " or trnys . All this is fresh anil pnstoml , —und still more pastoral and fresh ia tlio si ^ ht of the Greek girls sorting tlio large ripe figs for tho market , and the men dipping them into water Hweotuned with bay leaves , and arranging them lovingly into boxes . Formerly , the drum was the only form of box known to Europe ; but ; now
A propos of tobacco , Sayah remarks that , according to one notion , meerschaum" isnothingmore nor less than a composition of clay , soft , when prepared , manipulated and moulded , but hard and durable after exposure to the air . More poetical traditions describe it as a petrifaction of the cream or froth of the Caspian Sea—exactly as the nest of the Indian sea-swallow is described by the Chinese . But deponent says that it is a mineral production , found at no great distance from the surface , principally near Broussa , and under the shadows of
they are pressed into bijou cases of wood or pasteboard , within » ilt and enamel , and under portraits of a thousand grisettes and blondes . Once within the box the fruit is said to ferment , and here tradition interposes its ilisagreeable fancies . Out of each fig , saith the Fancy of the East , is emitted a creature of that legless type , the worm ; but Sayah , who would sit safely under his fig-tree , has examined several new cases , without verifying the legend , redolent as it is of ancient cheese . Still , the captains who carry figs to England , France , and America , declare that their decks are always covered with animalculae , which come and go , and no inaa knoweth whence they come or whither they go . We have little concern in the matter , seeins ; that the metempsychosis of the worm is past before the figs reach the London shops , so that we have the fruit without its posterity .
Olympus . Though yielded by a land of smokers , not a pound of it is sold in the native market . It is all packed and sent direct to Trieste , and thence to Vienna to be fashioned into those many shapes of elegance and ugliness well known to all classes of tobacco-consumers in London . Meerschaum pipes , however , are often imported into Smyrna from the German factories . The true material , of course , is imitated by the mechanical forger , but , by adepts , the fraud is at once detected , as real " meerschaum" absorbs the essential oil 3 which " composition" does not .
To a perfect merschaum pipe , an amber mouthpiece is essential—a mouthpiece of anxber from the Baltic Sea . In the East it is still considered to be a sort of alehymised gum , or transmuted white of eggs . Of this substance , too , the thievish Greek has many imitations to sell , the best being of Bohemian glass ; but the glass is hot , brittle , and disagreeable , while the amber is always cool , pleasant , and pure . In such light gossip Sayah indulges ; and to all who eat figs with wine , or prize an amber-tipped meerschaum , his gossip will be agreeable .
'. • , (Ftfufr Tfuvt'ti! ^Cbjjv Jilavu * ¦
€ k M $ :
Burford's New Panorama. How Mucli Pictur...
BURFORD'S NEW PANORAMA . How mucli pictures and models have contributed to swell the war feeling , and bring about unanimity in the nation , we shall perhaps never know ; but they must iiave been active influences . Simpson ' s sketches , Fenton ' s photograph ' s Burford ' s panoramas , all in their way , must have aided in feeding and awakening interest in the battle-fields of the East . Mr . Bukfoed has established a new claim to be considered a public benefactor—he has produced a new panorama of Sebastopol . In most respects , this new picture is superior to that exhibited last year . It bas one great advantage over that—it has been painted mainly from photographs . Thus , the Malakhoff is presented as it appeared two days after the triumphant assault , and every plank , crack in the stone , displacement of earth , inequality , is reproduced from the ptiotograpli upon the canvas . In
the same way , the Karahelnaia , the dockyard wall , several public buildings , Fort Nicholas , just blown up , and the surrounding scenery of cliff , and , fortress , and sea , are fac-similes of the originals . The spectator is supposed to be standing in a Russian battery , and immediately beneath him is a transcript of its interior , guns , mantelets , gabions , traverses . From this battery he looks upon the lines of the Allies . The moment chosen is when the French have just stormed the Malakhoff and the English are scrambling into the Redan . This terrible combat is on jour right as you face the Allied canip . In the rear of the Redan are masses of Russian soldiers , hurrying up from the Malakhoff ; on your left are the Zouaves , sweeping like a torrent into that work , and crowning its summit with the tricolor . Beyond
the Malakhoff lies the ruined Karabelnaia , and beyond that the blue waters of the harbour , crossed by the bridge of hoats ; still beyond that , the north side , and the Euxine bearing the British fleet forced to take no part . In front of the spectator are the extensive lines of the Allies , showing like tracks along the wide-spread hills . The painting is masterly ; the sea is exquisitely touched—the contrast of its enhn with the glare and hurly burly of the battle is very striking and refreshing- The atmosphere is also painted with rare skill ; and the deception as to magnitude is more perfect , we think , than that of any panorama we ever witnessed . This picture is certainly one of the happiest efforts of Mr . Bubfohd and Mr , Sulous , and must attract great notice .
Lyceum Thtsatke.—The Pianoforte Makers' ...
Lyceum Thtsatke . —The Pianoforte Makers' Dramatic Society intend giving their eighth performance on Monday evening , next , in aid of some workmen yi \\ o lost their tools at a recent fire . Henri / IV . and liaising the Wind are included in the programme . The Society has enabled several unfortunate pianoforte makers to emigrate , iuul has also purchased permanent life-governorships of St Murk ' s Hospital and Brompton Hospital .
Covent Garden.--Professor Anderson Has B...
Covent Garden .--Professor Anderson has broken ground apin , with popular English operas , introducing a Mr . Henry llaigh us a British tenor , who has made n favourable impression upon thu gcimriil public in the Bohemian Girl . The Professor , who appears disposed to mark Scotland foi his own , announces another favourite old Scottish pluy , iu which ho will personate tho principal character . Observing this dramatic predominance of Caledonia , wo are tempted to exclaim , O ! for ono hour of Samuel Johnson .
We Regret To Liear From Paris (Hat M. Au...
We regret to liear from Paris ( hat M . Aubcr is seriously ill . 1 ho pro ; dilution of hia now opera , RIanon Lvscaul , at the Opera Comiquo , ia delayer iu consequence .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 23, 1856, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23021856/page/19/
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