The Reviews for the summer quarter possess unusual like the typographical vagaries of Tristam Shandy-but it interest. There is an eloquent article in the Edinburgh, often happens that the meaning of a passage is altogether from the pen of Lord Dover, on Macaulay's History, wherein changed, by the substituted letters going to make another Mr. Croker is made to appear in very diminutive propor- and very ludicrous version. During the Mexican War the tions, and full justice is awarded to the excellences of the papers at one time gravely informed us that "Gen. Pillow great historian. The North British, among other things, and seven of his men had been lost in a bottle," and we all discusses Lieut. Lynch's Narrative of the Expedition to recollect the complaint of Miss Biddy Fudge of the blusthe Dead Sea, in rather a depreciating spirit. It contains ders of the County Gazettean article of interest on the "Railway System of Great Britain."

THE MAGIC OF KINDNESS. Such is the attractive title of a very pleasing volume published by Harper and Brothers. It is written by the brothers Mayhew; and is a handsome and ingenious allegorical-yet essentially true exposition of the beauty, wisdom and truth of genuine philanthropy.

HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. The same house have issued this very useful and interesting work consisting of reliable portraits of prominent members of the French Assembly since the last revolution and accounts of the proceedings.

But 'tis dreadful to think what provoking mistakes
The vile country Press in one's prosody makes.
For you know, dear,—I may, without vanity hint-
Though an angel should write, still 'tis derils must print;
And you can't think what havoc these demons sometimes
Choose to make of one's sense, and what's worse, of one's
rhymes.

But a week or two since, in my Ode upon Spring,
Which I meant to have made a most beautiful thing,
Where I talked of the "dewdrops from freshly-blown roses,"
The nasty things made it "from freshly-hlown noses!"

The Messenger is usually as free from typographical errors as a Magazine can be, and when we consider the awful' MSS. from which it is sometimes printed, we have reason to congratulate ourselves on its accuracy. But in our present number, we find several blunders of such a provoking character, that we are constrained to point them out, and say something in explanation of their occurrence. We shall mention only the prominent mistakes, leaving

CHILD'S HISTORY OF ROME;-a very pleasing and judicious compend from the excellent pen of Miss Sewall, whose “Gertrude” and other domestic tales proves her fit-all minor blunders to the correction of the intelligent reader.

ness to instruct as well as entertain the young. Published by D. Appleton & Co.

A LIST OF ERRATA.

Elia, in one of his Essays, speaks of a poor relation as the greatest annoyance of life, and employs a formidable catalogue of similes in his description of the class, which we consider peculiarly applicable to another sort of petites miseres-typographical errors. "A Poor Relation," says he, among other things, is "a blot on your 'scutcheon-a rent in your garment-a death's head at your banquetAgathocles' pot-a Mordecai at your gate, a Lazarus at your door-a lion in your path—a frog in your chamber-a fly in your ointment-a mote in your eye-a triumph to your enemy, an apology to your friends-the one thing not needful—the hail in harvest-the ounce of sour in a pound of sweet."

In the article on Moore's Anacreon, p. 564, four notes are marked in the text but not given. They were omitted in the MS. by an oversight of the author. The notes were most probably the Greek words employed in the Iliad.

In Mr. Tuckerman's article-Manzoni-p. 587, "Cheerbyle" should be Cheeryble, p. 588 “Albermarlett” should be Albemarle Street, p. 588, 2nd column "Anderson's" should be Andersen's, p. 590 “dankness" should be darkness, p. 591 the name of the Swedish novelist is again misprinted, and Ware is transformed into a wave.

In "A Bachelor's Reverie,” p. 604, for "Ebzeoir" read Elzevir and a few lines lower down, same column, for are, ave, read aiɛ, aiɛ,- p. 607 for martial" read Martial, and p. 609 for "the sick nurse" read "the sick sense." The errors in this article, with the exception of the last, occur, however, in but a small portion of our edition.

Our list of errata is finished. We deem it due to our readers, our contributors and ourselves to say how they came to be made. A short time during August and the early part of September the editor was absent from home, and the revi sal of sheets devolved on the proof-reader of the printingoffice. Now it happens to be a maxim with the craft "to

All this to the sensitive author or editor is the typographi- follow copy even should it go out of the window," and we cal error.

have found on recurring to the MSS. that in every case the printer has strictly adhered to the characters as set down. Our friend Mr. Tuckerman makes a legible and graceful chirography, yet he sometimes abbreviates and writes two words together to the perplexity of the compositor. Thus occurred the most awkward error in his article: "Albe marle St." written together having very much the appearance of Albermarlett."

It invadeth his repose, it destroyeth his peace of mind, it causeth him not unfrequently to utter maledictions upon innocent persons, it oppresseth him with a sense of an irreversible fate, from which there is no escape and for which no remedy can be supplied. The author, perhaps, has written an ingenious treatise upon the Homeric poems and looks with interest for its appearance in print. He opens the magazine containing it, and finds it so full of blunders that We have been not a little annoyed at these apparently it is indeed "all Greek" to him. Thereupon he swears at trivial matters, inasmuch as they subject us to unjust snubthe printer and writes down the editor an ass. The Editor, bing at the hands of the critical reader. Not to know the beholding with dismay the sad work of his compositors, home of John Murray, or the chorus of the Greek tragedy, must submit to the worst imputations upon his scholarship, or the name of the most famous of printers, or that Martial or seek to repair "the wreck of matter" by inserting that meant a man, would argue in us a melancholy want of fitmost awkward of all possible emendations, a list of errata.ness for our position as editor of the Messenger. We cry It is well indeed if the blunders make simple nonsense in this instance peccavimus and beg our correspondents in of the original. A page thrown into pi, or types out of future to be careful in the preparation of their MSS. for place, might be taken as something bizarre or whimsical, the press.

PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM-JNO. R. THOMPSON, EDITOR AND PROprietor.

VOL. XV.

RICHMOND, NOVEMBER, 1849.

[Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by John R. Thompson, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.]

THE CHEVALIER MERLIN.

CHAPTER THIRTEENTH.

"The haughty monarch, in spite of a perilous combination of adverse circumstances, did not relinquish his schemes for changing the ancient boundaries of kingdoms."

Atterbury.

NO. 11.

of which the Elector of Saxony had spoken in his account of the meeting at Altranstad. His head was thinly covered with sandy hair, which left the round and retreating forehead much exposed. His face was tufted with a straggling and starved beard, as dingy in its hue as the hair above. Of course there could be nothing very majestic in all this. But there was certainly in the countenance of the renowned monarch, much that proclaimed, or agreed with, his strong and unyielding character. His blue eyes were resolute and penetrating; his jaws were firmly set, and his nose, wide and free in its nostrils, curved into the Roman eagle-beak.

Some hours after he had reached the Swedish camp, Merlin, escorted by Count Piper, the favorite and minister of Charles, and the head of As Merlin entered the tent, the young monthe Swedish house to which our friend Captain arch-he was now in his twenty-seventh year— Gustavus Piper belonged, approached the tent of stood leaning on the pummel of his sword, in a the king. Letters from the Senator Sture to listening attitude. Mazeppa, who stood before Count Piper, brought by the Norwegian, had him, had been speaking. The countenance of gained for him the immediate protection of this the white-bearded chief bore traces of sadness great man about the person of the monarch. The minister said, as he led the way to the presence of his master:

"The king has been engaged with your travelling companion-who indeed is still with his majesty. Your arrival is connected with circumstances of disappointment and ill-omen." "How so, sir?" Merlin asked.

Count Piper, a dark-eyed and adroit looking civilian, lean, and slovenly in his apparel, answered with a show of surprise :

"You appear not to know that you came with Mazeppa, the General of the Ukraine. We have expected his arrival with an army, but he comes like a fugitive, with a handful of Cossacks at his back."

and embarrassment. Charles, who appeared wholly undisturbed by the disasters which the Hetman had doubtless recounted, fixed a keen glance upon the gigantic figure of the Norwegian.

"Who is this?" he said briefly, and without changing his position.

Count Piper replied:

"A Norwegian soldier, sire, who has travelled five hundred leagues to join us. He comes recommended to my favourable regard, and through me to your majesty's favour. The gentleman is named Merlin Brand."

Charles then received the Norwegian graciously, but with few words.

66

You seem a capable soldier," he said, "and we will find you the opportunity of proving whether you are also a brave man.”

"I did not, indeed, know," Merlin replied, "that the chief was Mazeppa the Hetman. We met upon the plains, and joined company with "I am sure," said Mazeppa, advancing a step the confidence of men not fearing each other, and speaking with kindly dignity, "that my comand without an uncourteous indulgence of curi-rade will prove such. Men learn to know each osity."

With this the speakers reached the royal tent, the outskirts of which were without guards, or attendants of any sort; and were presently met by a gentleman whom Merlin heard Count Piper address familiarly as Grothusen. In the next moment, the Norwegian stood for the first time in the presence of the King of Sweden.

The appearance of Charles was not very imposing at the first view. His stature was moderate. He wore the coarse gray coat, the taffety band about his neck, and the rough jack boots,

VOL. XV-81

other quickly when they hunger and thirst together in the desert."

Merlin bowed his thanks to the Hetman; he presently gave to the King of Sweden the roll of the Countess of Konigsmark.

Charles opened it; an inner roll distinct from the envelope remained in his hand, whilst he read from the envelope itself.

"The Countess of Konigsmark," he at length said coldly, "informs me that you are a knight of the order of the White Eagle."

"Yes, sire," Merlin replied, "there was indeed

a somewhat absurd imposition of such an hon- Sir Merlin Brand, it seems that we have been our upon me. But I have no wish to remem- mistaken, and that you are Hyperion.” ber it whilst serving your majesty."

Merlin, greatly annoyed and embarrassed, stood "You speak like a sensible man," said Charles. in the royal presence very much like a fool. The "But you are nevertheless a knight. Grothu- king condescended to smile. The girdle, instead sen, enrol Sir Merlin Brand as a member of the of going into the treasure-chest, was placed in household and provide for his accommodation." the hands of the true Hyperion, who said, as he "In what capacity, sire?" received it:

"As the king's friend," said Charles, who then carelessly opened the inner roll from which the envelope had been removed. As this roll was opened, a girdle of beautiful workmanship glittering with jewels, some of them of noble size and all of rare lustre, appeared within it. A scroll attached to the girdle contained the words "The zone of Venus to Hyperion." "What is this?" said the king. Mazeppa stroked his beard and smiled. Grothusen and Count Piper drew nearer to examine the precious ornament.

"It is a woman's belt, sire," said the latter. "Madame has sent her belt to your majesty, whom she chooses to style Hyperion."

"I will retain this valuable toy, sire, until I find the means of restoring it to the Countess of Konigsmark."

The king soon after dismissed his new recruit. Grothusen conducted him from the presence to a neighbouring tent. Merlin, reflecting upon his interview, found no great difference between Charles at Altranstad, as the Elector of Saxony had described him, and Charles as he had just seen him. In the one case a coat and a pair of boots had made the staple of his conversation, in the other a woman's girdle. How little of the martial hero, as brave, munificent, enterprising as Alexander his model,-the hero who in his early youth had passed at a stride to a glorious manhood, and become in those years of man's life when pleasure generally holds him captive, the admiration and terror of the world-how little of such a hero appeared in the plain and reserved young monarch! In the story of defeat which Mazeppa had come as a fugitive to tell, it might have been supposed that the baffled king would find a torch to ignite even his guarded nature into the fury of disappointment—into a majestic anger. Not a swolen vein, not a glance of Merlin possessed too much tact to enlighten the eye, had betrayed such excitement. But the king, and his high officers, by producing his Merlin read the King of Sweden aright, notwithlearning to contrast with their ignorance. He contented himself with saying that if the Venus of Konigsmark had found a resemblance between his majesty and Hyperion, Hyperion must doubtless have been an illustrious and invincible personage in ancient history or poetry. This was received as a satisfactory explanation.

"Who was Hyperion ?" said Charles. Count Piper observed that his majesty's service had been for many years so exacting that he had quite lost the polite learning which at one time he possessed. Grothusen had not forgotten for the reason that he had never known. Mazeppa, continuing to smoothe his long beard, looked on with a degree of simple curiosity not a little striking in one of so venerable an appear

ance.

"What are the stones worth?" said the King of Sweden, passing the girdle to Count Piper. "At least fifty thousand crowns," replied Count Piper, when he had examined the jewels. "A sum to equip a battalion!" said Charles. "Put it into the treasure-chest, Grothusen."

Grothusen picked from the ground, where it had fallen, the inner envelope which had been immediately about the girdle, and replaced the girdle in it. As he did so he saw an address upon it, which had been until then overlooked. He read aloud

standing that he bore away in his mind an unheroic image of the hero. He saw in the sober and somewhat repelling demeanour of the conqueror the reserve of a nature all sufficient to itself—a nature that demands no communion or counsel in its gravest measures-that underrates the value of foreign aid, and consequently does not view its loss as fatal, or even as greatly disastrous. "It must be with a very different demeanour," he meditated, "that the invincible King of Sweden dazzles the eyes of men, in moments of high action. He is something quite different when, exalted by the music of battle, he rides like a cadet over broken battalions, wet with the blood of his enemies. And his address is doubtless more royal when he decrees the submission, and dictates the laws of nations."

When, under the care of Grothusen, the quarters of the Norwegian had been selected, and he Exclusively for the hands, and for the pri- had taken possession of them, he became aware vate eyes of Sir Merlin Brand."

66

"So" said the King of Sweden. makes a difference."

"That

that the boy who had escaped from the Tartars, and who had ridden into the camp on the steed of the chief Osbeck, had determined to become

He read the address for himself, then added: his servant. This boy, without waiting to be

bidden, went about the duties of a valet, inform-than many. Take me into your service and I ing his new master that he had already discharg-will do every thing to please you; and indeed The lad was a slender, you will find me useful, and ready to do as much for love, as the killing of my mother taught me to do for hate."

ed those of a groom.

active, little fellow of fifteen, sharp and clever, with the bronze of Egypt in his face, and large, eager black eyes. Merlin interested by his conduct in the scene with the Tartars, and by his appearance, asked him many questions. The reader shall learn his brief story in the answers which he gave to these questions.

66

"How did you come among the Swedes?" said Merlin.

"After I had killed the men who whipped my mother to death, and burnt their town, I remained with our people for some time, and lived Where I was born I do not know," said the such a free life as the whistling plover lives. But boy, in a clear but humble tone. My mother I was getting old enough to think that there might was a Bohemian, and travelled with her people be some better life in spite of its liberty. One from country to country. When I had grown day I heard the guns thundering in one of the large enough to do a great deal of mischief I was battles, and went to a hill to see the famous sport. praised for doing it well. The Saxons gave The drums, and the trumpets, and the roar of me a name because I could imitate the neigh of the guns, and the rushing of the horses, made me a horse; they called me Weigen. Afterwards unable to remain on the hill. I gathered some the people of another village, in the neighbor-round stones, and fitted one to my sling; and then hood of which we lived for a year, called me I ran down, and began to fight as if I had as Caputsch, because my mother made me wear a good a reason for fighting as the rest—which cowl which she had in some way procured from perhaps I had. I kept near the drummer of a a monk. That continues to be my name. I am regiment. At last he fell with his elbows on his your servant Caputsch, master." drum, and nodded so naturally that I did not un

Where is your Bohemian mother?" Merlin derstand at once that he was dead. When I asked. saw that he was truly dead, I took the sticks

She is dead, sir. They whipped her to death from his hands, and emptied the head of the drum in Silesia."

his master, replied quickly:

of his blood that had filled it, and then I beat away as fast and as loud as I could. So I be

"Poor child!" said the Norwegian. Caputsch, as if rebellious against the pity of came a drummer. At first the men made a pet of me. But when I was no longer new to them, "But, sir, if they whipped my mother to death they found that as I was not much higher than I was not too young to kill them for it. I brought my drum, and only reached to the elbow of onedown Groffer Hans, the burgomaster who order-eyed Gofried the fifer, I did not make a good ed her to be whipped, with a stone from a sling, figure as a drummer; and so they made a pot-boy which made him die. I shot the hangman from of me. That is the whole story, master." behind a hedge, and then I burnt their town. The fire was kindled as often as they put it out. On the seventh night there was a glorious wind, and the town burnt like a hell in the valley."

"Caputsch,” said Merlin, not very favourably impressed by the latter portion of the young firebrand's narrative, "I have no need for your services."

The boy replied with a sudden change from the exalted tone, to which, in recounting his filial vengeance, he had risen:

"How was it that you fell into the hands of the Tartars?" Merlin asked.

"I went to find the horse of the Ritter Dombinski-the horse had gone away to the plains. Do you know the terrible Ritter? He threatened to put me on the coals, and boil his kettle with me, if I did not bring his beast back. The Tartars came around me. I dodged them for some time, but the ground was too open, and they rode me down. Then you saved me from them." "It was hardly so, Caputsch," said Merlin. You owe your escape to your own courage, and presence of mind. We only prevented your re-capture."

He presently added:

"You took a wild and barbarous vengeance,

“I can be thankful for kindness, master. When" the Tartars would have returned and killed me, you came up and saved me. And you spoke kindly, and looked kindly, to me. Caputsch is not used to kinduess. In the camp it is Caputsch, you son of a monk, furbish my firelock-not natural to one of tender years, upon the 'Caputsch, you spawn of a gypsey, rub down murderers of your mother. But you were doubtmy horse' Caputsch, you imp of the devil, put less trained a young savage, with the good of wood to the fire, and grill the bones.' So it runs, your nature hidden under the shadow of its bad, master, when they are in an excellent humor- and the murder of a mother is such a provocathese brave Swedes. When they are angered tion, to the wildest vengeance, as none of us they beat me. It is better to serve one master might resist. I receive you into my service,

Caputsch, since you desire that I will do so. You of his dispersed followers, and was enabled, by can be as sure of my kindness as I can be of the love of the Cossacks for their Hetman, to your fidelity.”

So Merlin acquired, in this little elf Caputsch, a servant destined to share many perils with him, and to stand him in good stead on critical occasions of his adventurous life.

CHAPTER FOURTEENTH.

"The philosopher Calanus laid a dry and shrivelled hide before Alexander, and first trode upon the edges of it; this he did all round; and as he trode on one side, it started up on the other. At last he fixed his feet on the middle, and then it lay still. By this emblem Calanus showed him that he should fix his residence, and plant his principal force in the heart of his empire, and not go away so far, carrying a wandering dominion, liable to be lost, to the distant ex

tremities."-Plutarch.

feed his ally. The splendid host which had left the borders of Saxony covered with gold and silver, and numbering forty thousand soldiers emboldened by the uninterrupted victories of eight campaigns, had by the end of that terrible winter been reduced to eighteen thousand men, halfstarved, and clad in the furs of wild animals. Toward the end of winter, hostilities, which the severity of the season had suspended, were renewed. One or two unimportant battles were fought; skirmishes were of frequent occurrence. In these unimportant battles, and skirmishes, the Chevalier Merlin bore his part well, and even succeeded, by good fortune, in distinguishing himself on several occasions. He had obtained a post in the army, and, rising by his gallantry, had become the major of the famous mounted It is not my purpose to narrate in detail the regiment of Smaland. Early in the winter be events, which, in the several succeeding months, had written a detailed account of his adventures rendered the situation of the King of Sweden at the Chateau d'Amour, to send to his mistress perilous in the extreme. Day after day brought in Sweden, concealing nothing except the fact disaster after disaster. Within a week of the that the Countess of Konigsmark was the Circe arrival of Mazeppa, presaged by rumors of the to whose arts he had been a victim. He did not saddest character, came Lewenhaupt, the bro- extenuate his fault in this confession, but with ken hope of Sweden. His gallant army had mournful candour admitted his miserable weakcontended its way obstinately forward, through ness, and the presumption of his former confident terrible obstacles of man and nature. With a and proud self-reliance. He besought only that force originally consisting of but fifteen thousand the Swedish maiden would not cast him hopemen, he had fought five pitched battles against lessly off, but await the result of his efforts to an army of forty thousand, an army which the prove his penitence, and a purer worth, in the Czar, who in person opposed him, recruited from trials of that career upon which he had at last day to day as the courage of Sweden thinned its entered. This frank, manly and earnest letter, ranks. The army of fifteen thousand men had he had found opportunity to despatch, by a Pobeen reduced to four thousand, by the time that, lish courier whom Charles had sent to King stemming the currents of the Sossa, Lewenhaupt Stanislaus, during the enforced armistice of midgained its outhern bank and shook off his ene- | winter.

my. Of eight thousand wagons, loaded with Under all the disasters of his situation the supplies for his King, all were burnt, or in the King of Sweden had lost neither the hope nor hands of the Czar. Of his artillery he retained the design of penetrating to Moscow. But he not a gun. In this condition, with nothing but needed artillery and supplies. The Czar bad honour left to him, the brave general joined his formed a magazine in Pultowa, a town on the royal master. river Vorska in the eastern extremity of the Ukraine, thirteen leagues from the Boristhenes. Charles determined to possess himself of the Czar's magazine; the possession of it would enable him to await in safety and abundance the arrival of succours, which he expected from Sweden, Livonia, Pomerania, and Poland. Therefore with his mixed force of eighteen thousand The winter became, as it advanced, one of un- Swedes and Poles, and about twelve thousand precedented severity. Charles removed his camp Cossacks and Wallachians mustered by Mazepsouthward. In the march of one day two thou-pa, he took position, about the middle of May, sand men fell dead, of cold and hunger.

Thus the King of Sweden found himself destitute of supplies, cut off from all communication with Poland, and surrounded by enemies, in the heart of a wild country beyond the borders of civilization. But the arrival of Lewenhaupt, like that of Mazeppa, produced no change in his demeanor.

The horses died; cannon were left behind for want of means to drag them. But for Mazeppa the force of the King of Sweden would indeed have been annihilated. He collected a portion

before Pultowa.

On a pleasant morning King Charles rode to view the defences of the beleaguered town, destined to blend its obscure name with his fortunes, darkly, to all times. At his side rode Velt Mares