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rviticsare not the legislators , but the judges and polict of literature . They do not make laws—they interpret and try to enforce them —Edinburgh Review .
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It is pleasant to communicate pleasant news , and our pen glides over the paper with unusual animation as it hastens to announce that Charles Dickens is about to issue a new work . Upon what delighted ears that sound will fall ! To how many thousands it will make the first of every month a day of expectation ! Thackeray ,, as we told you long ago , is to present us with his new work all at once ; three volumes , not twenty numbers . To a smaller class of readers , and yet a class not small , it will also be pleasant news , that a Life of Niebukr , under the direction of Chevalier Bunsen , is on the eve of publication .
No lack of winter reading ! Besides the works just named , and those already on our table , there is Herman Melville ' s Whale tempting all lovers of amusement ; there is Kaye ' s War in Ajf ghanistan , likely to be an extremely important book ; there is Broderip ' s Leaves from the Note Book bf a Naturalist to seduce all readers—and many other books we cannot stop to name .
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Charles Lamb , in one of his exquisite essays , speculates on the effect of some other organ chosen in lieu of the heart as the source of emotional feeling . He pictures a gtntleman addressing a lady thus : — 11 Allow me , Madam , to make you a tender of my hand—and liver ! Imagine the destruction of sentiment ! Imagine Julia passionately offered Henry ' s fortune and diaphragm ! Yet if Julia were a Greek instead
of a Saxon , she would accept the diaphragm and liver , avec empressement . For in those regions did the Greeks locate intelligence and tenderness . Do we not read in Anackeon how the poet sleeping quietly is aroused by a furious knocking at the door : getting up , he sees a little damp Boy , who has been " wandering through the moonless night , " upon whom he takes pity , admitting him to his fireside ; the Boy , dried and warmed , takes up his bow ( for the Boy is Cupid ) , bends it , aims at Anacreon , and shoots him in the centre of the
—heart ? no—the liver ! Txvvei $ e kxl {* £ rvirrei Mtcrov vj-nzp . Henceforth Anacreon is Liver-sick , Liver-weaFy , broken-livered ! As to the diaphragm , we learn from Dr . Scott ' s Lectures on the History of Medicine , publishing in
the British Journal of Ilomccopatliy , that the " membrane Separating the chest from the abdomen , now called diaphragm , was formerly called ( ppeyeq , being supposed to be the seat of the understanding or prudence , a docti ine controverted as early as the time of Hippocrates , or at least of the author of the work De Mar bo Sacro ascribed to him . " The
reason for locating intelligence in the diaphragm seems to have been that in sudden joy or grief , " it starts and manifesto uneasiness . " As to the Brain , no suspicion of its preeminence existed j not only was its capital function unsuspected , but even by Aiustotlk it was regarded as a sortof HiiperiluouH u \ i \ m of earth anil water , without blood or sensation , and quite different from the spinal marrow . It is sometimes said to refresh or temper the heat of the heart—an expression , as Dr . Scott remaiks , which , > f undertitood metaphorically , is not far from the t nth .
What curious reflections arc suggested by hucIi revelations of the early guesses of science ! The Ncrv « H , properly so called , were unknown to Aiuh . toti . ic ; the Brain was to him an unimportant mass ; yet Modern Science has learned , not only to consider tho Nervous System ; ih the . highest development of organic matter , hut has iniult ; it the basis of all clasHilica »; ion in Zoology . Yet while the early records of Science sturtle us with what •» eem » inconceivable ignorance on familiar points ,
they also startle us with what look like the anticipations of our latest discoveries . Thus , amidst much that is preposterously wrong , Dr . Scott mentions that Plato " conceived the formation of the human body began with the spinal marrow , which then became covered with bones , and the bones with flesh ; that the bonds which unite the soul and body are in the spinal maifow , and that the seat of the reasonable soul is in the brain , which is a continuation of the spinal marrow , and
is as a chamber prepared for the divine seed . " With very slight modifications modern embryology would endorse that passage ; yet we know that it was mere guess work with Plato . We have only to continue the passage to see how little scientific knowledge there was as a basis for his views . " That part of the soul on which depend generosity , anger , and courage , he placed near the head , between the diaphragm and the neck , i . e ., in the
chest or heart , agreeably to Pythagoras , and he taught that the lungs were made to surround the heart , in order to refresh it and calm the violent movements of that department of the soul which therein had its residence , by the freshness derived partly from the air respired , and partly from a portion of the drink which descended to the lungs . Another department of the soul , the seat of the appetite and desires , is placed between the diaphragm and navel . "
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THB BLUE AND WHITE NILES . Khartoum and the Blue and White JVile * . By George Melly . 2 rols . Colburn and Co One is never tired of reading books about the East . The very names of the cities , rivers , and monuments have a magic in them , calling up , as they do , the charming associations of The Arabian Nights , recalling the delightful visions and romances of childhood : — " When the breeze of a joyful dawn , blew free In the silken sail of infancy . The tide of time flowed bark with , me , The forward-flowing tide of time ; And many a eheeiiy summer mom Adowu tho Tigris I was borne By lJagilat ' s shrines of fretted gold High-xca . lVdgardens green and old ; True Mussulman was I ; and sworn , Yov it was in the golden prime Of guod JIaroua Alraschid . " To hear about Cairo , Thebes , the Nile , Ipsamboul , the Pyramids , harems , Nubians , dancing tf irls , dervishes , and mysterious magnificent Pachas , we would willingly listen to . the dullest speaker that ever had anything to say on that subject . Mr . George Melly is a very pleasant speaker , and his work is , therefore , perfectly welcome , lie writes in a plain , . straightforward way , of what he actually saw , paint .: unambitious pictures with agreeable ease , indulges very little in rhetoric and rhapsody , is meritoriously abstinent in sham historical learning and in political or philosophical speculation , and is altogether an unaffected , gentlemanly companion , who , without impressing you as a profound thinker or brilliant writer , tries to make you nee Home faint picture of what he himself saw . We found it light , agreeable reading , and recommend you to try it .
Mr . George Mclly set off from Trieste in September , 1850 , with his father and mother , brother and sister . Having two ladies with them , made their expedition a more serious matter , no ladies having previously ventured so far into Nubia as Khartoum , where- the Blue and White Niles branch off . Their success will encourage followers . Mr . Melly cannot resist lingering by the way , and recording his experiences in Alexandria and Cairo ; and , trodden as thene citieH have been by touristH , they Htill present a sort of freshness to the reader . We shall cull from these pages- a few illustrative extracts , having the reader ' s amusement in our eye : —¦ Till ! HHIKl . I ) OI' OI ' . NTI . KNliHH .
" The Nubian outrunners extreme lht : ir vocation in ft v < ry merciless wuy , and I once , with equal surprise and pleasure , kuw one thwivrted in bin -vindictive purposes in a miuincr that 1 cannot but record . An Arab boy , with tin ; hhkcIucvouh propensitieH of bin age , had scrambled up behind the ciuringo of Ali Hoy , a hoii of Ibrahim Panha ' H , when proceeding through one of the streeta of Cairo ; but being pcr-( cived by the Nubian , ^ rang down again , nnd mudo oil . Huh , however , did not satisfy the outrunner who instantly dashed after him , his face contorted
with rage , and leaving no doubt that he intended to inflict a most severe chastisement . The poor little urchin ran for his life , and well he might ; for one blow of the Nubians whip , wielded by such a muscular arm , must certainl y have crippled him . So desperate were the boy ' s efforts to escape , now darting up the street , and then wheeling Tound and round that the chase became quite exciting . causing every one to stop and look on , though only one dared to interpose . Turkish
This amiable exception was a lady , who , just as the boy was sinking from exhaustion , dre \ v him towards her , and threw her robe over him . This was like casting down the king ' s gage , in the days of jousts and tournaments ; and Oriental chivalry forbade the Nubian to advance . After a few moments' hesitation , he turned sullenly away , like a baffled tiger , and the boy was set at liberty . Thus , even here , the ministering gentleness of woman makes itself apparent , and her influence is felt and acknowledged . " :
A LITTLE SHOPPING . " Strangers attract little attention , and I walked about here alone without exciting any observation ; but when accompanied by an English lady , she became the centre of all eyes , and I have no doubt the old Turks were much shocked at such a public exhibition of an unveiled lady , though I overheard them likening her' to a beautiful full moon , and making other flattering remarks on her charms . " But though not stared at , the moment I accosted any of the merchants , they replied to me in the kindest manner , and I was invited to sit on the divan , and smoke the best pipe , whilst gold filigree
coffeecups were despatched for the thickest coffee , whieh made its appearance in the most complimentary quantities . My hosts did not talk much , and were very laconic in their replies to my questions as to the state of the nation . They inquired affer our ladies , but had I made any such inquiry of them , they would have deemed it an unpardonable liberty . They were , however , very communicative about their children , and , from what I could learn , they all had a beautiful daughter at home . I went sometimes with the dragoman , and sometimes alone , when , indeed , I was best received , though I could only converse by signs , and this amused them much . But I
soon picked up a few words , and at once the word * taib , ' good , on which I told an old Turk it was the only word wanted there , as all was * taib . ' lie immediately set to work unlocking ease after case for my amusement , displaying among other precious things , the most rare slippers , which I was afterwards told were worn by lades in bed . They were one mass-of pearls , and cost about £ 40 a pair . I was shown handkerchiefs of the Parisian open work , in every stitch of which was a pearl , rendering the article entirely useless ; and mouth-pieces of amber were produced , varying in price from £ 100 to £ 1 , 30 , the value being thus raised by diamond ? , mounted in the gold rings between the joints .
"I was luver tired of this old man , and I saw him v < ry often . He always addressed me as the ' Cnvaghi , ' a word which [ had atfir > t suspected to mean ' dog of a Chii-uimi , ' but was subsequently persuaded , meant ' IUus'iious stranger . ' He never seiMned to expect me to buy anything , which , indeed , I never did , but was content to see others do . A ludy , very richlv dressed , came to him one day , and negotiated for a pair of pearl slipper .- ; . She bt gan !> y talking of all Horts of things , and then offered ab > ut one-third of
the price named . lbe lu « k turned to me , and a long smoke ensued , when he came down a fourrh , and she came up after another interval , to within , about £ G of his last offer , nnd then she went olF wivh . the slippers , having blood the best part of an hour . While the negotiation was in progress , I offered her my seat , but t » he did not seem to have the least id < a of what I meant , and stared at me with her beautifi-1 but expressionless eyes , as if she thought me extremely restless . "
VlHlT TO TUB URUVIRHEB . * ' I witnessed a curious religion )) ceremony at tho collego of Dervishes . Entering a large conrt-yaid I found between twenty and thirty persons seated on cane divans , smoking pipes , and apparently waiting tho time appointed for commencing the . service . A young boy oilVred me a seat , nnd invited ino to tako a pij > e and some coflVe , ho unlimited and ho spontaneous are Eastern hospitality and courtesy , displayed even to utter Htrangcrs , in the most puhlio places . After a considerable interval we all took off our hIiocb , and entered a Hpacioiu ; hall , ri .-ing to ji dome of great height , nnd hung round with iiniven .
buckU . TH , and hows . Five l ) ervinli < M wore aeuted in a circle in the centre , on phc-epskiiis ; and round tho BidcH of the hall , bear and tiger j-kinM were nprtad i \ , r visitors . The Dervishes wen ; now joined by othern , and by a crowd of devotees , on which they all began a low and rather monotonous ehant , though tho effect , from tho union of no many voices , was not inharmonious . Tho Dervinhes now numbered thirteen , but the devotees , who needed equally iealouc , amounted to twenty-four , mil woru compoM-d of a captain in the iiimy , a janissary , three or four soldiers , BoviTftl men in rich dreHBCH , and a icniduo of beggara . Gradually their tones roso higher , aai
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Oct . 25 , 1851 . ] ®! l * »*« & **? ¦¦ 1019
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 25, 1851, page 1019, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1906/page/15/
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