overs, so frequently bedewed this spot, when bewailing the inexorable cruelty of his Laura.”

But tender and romantic sentiment is not the only element of interest which the journal contains in connection with Vaucluse. There is in the village a small inn, called the Hotel of Petrarch and Laura, which is the resort of wags as well as of vissionaries, and where money is ludicrously held to be the standard and test of poetic fervour and sympathy:

"Here sentimental tourists stop to regale themselves on the delicious trout which the river furnishes; giving, between every morsel of the luscious fare, a sigh to the memory of the celebrated lovers, whose busts decorate the mantel-piece of the chamber where the refection is served. Those travellers who command the most luxurious repasts are considered by the inmates to possess the most sensibility; and those who submit without resistance to extortion, are esteemed to be mirrors of sentimentality: a regulation of which our worthy hostess made us aware, by the warmth of her praises of those who expended what she considers a proper sum, and the severity of her strictures against the more economical or less wealthy visitors. The English, she vowed, were the most sentimental people alive. It was delightful, she said, to see them sit for hours at table, with their eyes turned towards the busts of Petrarch and Laura, and sighing, while they washed down their repast with bumpers to the memory of the lovers. They (the English) never squabbled about the items in the bill. No! they were too noble-minded for that: they were wholly engrossed by tender recollections. Of the Germans, Russians, Italians, and even of her compatriots, the French, she spoke less kindly. Would you believe it, madam, continued she, many of them pass this inn-yes, the inn-sacred to the memory of Petra:ch and Laura, without ever crossing its threshold; and the few who do, draw from their pockets biscuits, and demand only a glass of eau sucrée.”

"A fool and his money"-and so forth, is, we suppose, a proverb which oft suggests itself when the sons of Albion sport their importance far away from their shops. But among these flush adventurers there are some irreverent souls, even when supposed to be sentimentalizing at such a shrine as that of the Hotel of Petrarch and Laura; for we read that the eloquent and laudatory hostess was thus interrupted by her better half, he having discovered that two of the visiting party were French :

"You forget, ma chère, when you talk of the English never passing any mauvaises plaisanteries on the respectable countenances of Monsieur Petrarch and Madame Laure, the two mauvais sujets, that, with a burnt cork, gave a pair of large black mustachios to Madame Laure, and, with a red chalk, made the nose of Monsieur Petrarch redder than a tomato ; ay, and gave him a pair of spectacles too. Why, it took me full two hours to get them clean again!'"

Those minutely acquainted with the history of the atrocities and sacrifices of the Reign of Terror, will remember the case of the young lady of the Sombreuil family, who performed the horrible but heroic act, as the purchase price of her father's life, of drinking a goblet of blood. When our authoress visited Avignon this lady resided there, her name being Madame de Villume. We read further,

"She is wife to the General of that name, and is as remarkable for the exemplary discharge of all the duties of life as of those of her filial ones. She is still strikingly handsome, though her countenance is tinged with a soft melancholy that denotes the recollection of the bitter trials of her youth. Her complexion is peculiarly delicate, her hair fair, and her features small and regular: her manners are dignified and gentle, and her voice soft and sweet. She is exceedingly beloved at Avignon, and universally treated with a respectful deference, that marks the profound admiration which her filial piety has excited. I was told that she shrinks from the slightest allusion to her youthful trials, and cannot bear to look on red wine; which is never brought into her presence."

We have been detained too long on the way to Italy to afford anything like a just idea of the riches and beauties which stud this part of a work that has professedly been the chief field as respects the abundance and value of the fair writer's cherished impressions. It requires minds naturally endowed and assiduously cultivated,-tastes purified and exalted, like those of Mr. Reade and Lady Blessington, to render their sketches of objects and scenes in that classic land, which have been so many thousands of times the themes of description, tolerable. But they have done more; for, by stamping the things spoken of and pictured, they have left a copy of themselves, at the same time drawing from whatever they touched assimilating points to their own original or highly-trained conceptions. The only examples, in as far as the present writer is concerned, that we can further find room for, in illustration of what we have said, will be confined to Naples and its vicinity. The tomb of Virgil is the first subject:

"A bay-tree once crowned the tomb; but the English travellers, as the custode informed us, not only stripped it of its branches, but when they had all disappeared, cut the roots, so that no trace of it is left. This desire to possess memorials connected with celebrated persons is a weakness from which few are exempt; nevertheless, if we analysed the feeling, we should be led to allow that it is puerile to attach value to mere perishable memorials of even a more perishable substance, the human frame; when we have the emanations of the mind which lent the frame its honour, preserved fresh and unfading as when the immortal spark that dictated them animated its frail tenement of clay. Let us place in our libraries the works of the master spirits of past ages, instead of filling our cabinets with lumber, only prised by some remote association connected with the mortality of those whose writings are immortal. The grave of an

Englishman, whose name I could not learn, is, by his last desire, close to the tomb of Virgil, and a more beautiful view than the spot commands it is impossible to imagine. A nameless grave, and particularly in a conspicuous situation, is always an object that awakens melancholy reflections in the mind. It denotes that he whose frame moulders in it was uncheered by the hope-a hope so natural to many-that after he should repose in it, some who loved him would seek his tomb, and read his name with pensive eyes. This return to eternity without leaving a trace behind, indicates a broken spirit which had outlived hope and affection. How many pangs must the human heart have endured, ere it is tutored into this last desire of despair, of dying unknown and unnamed! He could not have been poor, who could pay for a grave in this spot; consequently, it was not poverty that compelled a nameless grave. Whoever may have been the sleeper within it, I gave to his memory a sigh; and to the custode an additional fee, for the care bestowed in preserving it from profanation. Another funeral monument, near to that of Virgil, excited less mournful reflections. It is that erected by an English lady to the ashes of her lapdog! this monument has excited so much animadversion, that it is said it will be removed; and I must confess that I shall not regret its disappearance, for I do not like to see the name of her who raised it, a name honoured in Italy, as appertaining to one who has proved herself a liberal patroness of the arts, and an enlightened amateur of literature and science, exposed to the censures of those-and there are many-who think that she has insulted the ashes of Virgil, by placing those of her canine favourite so near them."

We read in a note that the lap-dog's monument has been removed.

Our last selection from the Idler's Italy, though it be too lengthy for our space, bears upon manners and forms of society to which her Ladyship as frequently applies herself as to the ideal or sentimental flights, some specimens of which we have given. The story is better than being merely amusing; for, when taken with the concluding observations, it is clear, that, on the occasion described, pain and vexation to a keen extent were experienced; and also that simi. lar disappointments and demoralizing infatuation are frequent occurrences in Neapolitan life :

"A curious incident lately occurred in our immediate neighbourhood. A gentleman who has a villa near this, dreamt that a certain number would be a prize in the lottery. The morning after his dream, which was only a week previous to the drawing of the lottery, he wrote a note to his clerk to desire him to buy the ticket immediately: and subsequently told many of his neighbours and acquaintances of his dream, the number, and of his purchase of the ticket. Being a very popular person, all who heard of the circumstance were anxious that his dream should be realised; and, to their great satisfaction, the number was drawn a very large prize. Forthwith, a numerous party of artizans and peasants, employed by the gentleman in question, sallied forth from Naples, with musical instruments, colours flying, and a banner gaily decorated; on which the lucky number was inscribed, and also the amount of the prize. In this manner they

proceeded to the habitation of Mr., and announced the joyful intelligence, which, it is needless to say, spread a general hilarity through the house. This procession was followed by several friends and acquaintances, who came to congratulate the fortunate owner of the prize. Refreshments in abundance were served out on the lawn for the peasants and artizans; and a collation in the salle-à-manger was offered to the friends. Sufficient wine of an inferior quality not being in the cellar, the best was copiously supplied, in the generosity occasioned by the good fortune of the host. The health of the winner of the prize was repeatedly drunk; and many suggestions relative to the disposal of a portion of the newly acquired wealth were given. The news spread, and the pleasure grounds of Mr. became literally filled with visitors of all classes; when, in the midst of the general rejoicings, the clerk who had been a week before deputed to purchase the ticket arrived, with a visage so rueful and woe-begone, that one glance at it announced some disagreeable news. Alas! this unlucky wight had, in the pressure of more than ordinary business, forgotten to buy the ticket! and thought not of it until informed of its having been drawn a prize. The rage and disappointment of Mr. may be more easily imagined than described, when he saw the wheel of fortune, which had paused at his door, driven to that of another; who, having heard of the dream of Mr. -, selected the number, and became the buyer of the ticket only the day before it was drawn. The refreshments so liberally dispensed on this occasion had quite exhausted the larder of the dreamer, and nearly emptied his cellar : and thus ended the affair of the lottery. Never were people so addicted to this species of gambling as are the Neapolitans. All classes indulge in it, more or less, but the lower ones give way to it with an extraordinary recklessness. Every dream, encounter, incident, or accident, has its own particular sign and number, which may be found in a book published for the instruction of the buyers of tickets, and of which every house has a copy. The death of a friend, however lamented, refers to a particular number, which the mourner forgets not to secure, if it comes in conjunction with some fortunate sign; thus even out of misfortunes and afflictions the Neapolitans seek to draw some recompense. Nor does frequent disappointment seem to correct their eagerness for the lottery. They always discover some satisfactory reason for having missed the prize; and hope to be more fortunate the next time."

ART. IV.-A Tour in Sweden in 1838; comprising Observations on the Moral, Political, and Economical State of the Swedish Nation. By SAMUEL LAING, ESQ., Author of "A Journal of a Residence in Norway." London: Longman, Orme, and Co. 1839. MR. LAING has taken the Scandinavian Peninsula under his special protection. He is the only living English writer, we believe, that has systematically undertaken to give a full and connected account of the present social, moral, and political condition of the Norwegian and Swedish people. And he has done what he proposed well. His "Journal of a Residence in Norway, during the Years 1834-5 and 6," has established his reputation as a pains-taking, sensible,

able, and elegant writer. Unpretending though it be, it possesses the qualities which natural and studiously acquired talents, sound judgment, and a plain and forcible style of writing can impart. Nor will this sequel be found an unsuitable companion. True, the former country, comparatively speaking, is the land of his choice. The Norwegians as a people, and on account of the popular institutions under which the nation is developing itself, have particular attractions for Mr. Laing. There may also be felt in perusing the present work, more of dissertation and less of those interesting minute details than what distinguished the former production. This may no doubt have arisen, not merely from a more protracted residence, and more close and varied inquiry and observation; it may also be reasonably attributed to a more ripened acquaintance with the whole Scandinavian theme, and the opportunities for that wider speculation which contrasts and comparisons naturally suggest. But we also suspect that Mr. Laing has unconsciously been swayed by a more ambitious feeling of authorship. To be the philosopher or the politician is more flattering than to be the mere chronicler of facts.

Still, we are far from thinking that our author has been led beyond his depth when indulging in speculation about the influences which have produced the existing condition of things in Sweden, or about its prospects and future history It is his habit to go below the surface; his intellect is acute, his sagacity strong, his knowledge of first principles, moral and political, is mature; he is deeply in earnest, not writing for temporary popularity, but for the lasting benefit of mankind; so that the result is, that his " Tour in Sweden" will engage every ordinary reader, while it is still more calculated to arrest the attention of the statesman, and to instruct the student of political economy.

Mr. Laing is soundly of opinion, that the calm which Europe has been enjoying since the termination of the war that followed the French Revolution, extends over a period that is perhaps the most important in the history of man. New powers, intellectual and physical, have been evoked, new feelings and views have been entertained, and we are still in a transition state. None of the nations, it is true, were further removed from the tremendous convulsion alluded to, than Norway and Sweden; yet none of the nations have been more permanently affected by it,-Norway by receiving a new and liberal constitution, Sweden by obtaining a new dynasty.

Now the actual condition of each of these so singularly affected countries must present a page of extremely instructive reading. How have the old institutions been altered or modified? in what stage of forwardness are the middle and labouring classes? What is it that retards or accelerates their progress? These and many other great questions, our author has endeavoured to connect, or to indicate how they may be connected, with his facts; the account