highly prized in Russia, and it is possible something of his real character was at the same time distinctly made known talents are the first thing required in that country, and as to honesty, the surest guarantee for that, is the fact, there is a certainty of being hanged or severely punished, if detected in being otherwise. When Upton arrived at Sebastopol, the harbour was in a very inefficient state; several engineers had in vain endeavoured to improve it: the difficulty of obtaining water to admit and to float great ships seemed insurmountable; he, however, procured immense iron works from Birmingham, and by science, labour, and expense, he made Sebastopol what it is. The whole time of his residence in the Crimea, he was engaged in directing fortifications in the Black Sea, and was for many years chief engineer at Sebastopol. The Emperor, satisfied with his exertions and success, conferred on him the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Russian army, and he was honourably distinguished and received at the palace of St. Petersburg. Colonel Upton died about a year since, but the lasting celebrity of his name, as the creator of the almost impregnable defences at Sebastopol will be more durable than the presumed solidity of its walls, or the brazen artillery that now bristle through their embrasures.

"Our special Correspondent," Times, Oct. 20, describing the movement to Balaklava, Sept. 25, states, "on our march to-day, the cavalry took a Mr. Upton, an Englishman by birth, and son of the English engineer who constructed so many useful works at Sebastopol. He was captured on his farm, and was taken before Lord Raglan, but he refused in the most decisive way to give any information respecting the Russians, as he said he could not reconcile it to his notions of honour to injure a Government in whose military service he had been. He is in the custody of the Provost Marshal, -Macdonald, 93d Regiment. It is believed he has not much to tell."

HOW TO STAY A LADY'S TONGUE.

ABERNETHY, the late surgeon, abhorred ladies of infinite tongue, and being once annoyed by a patient more than usually garrulous, said sharply, " Madam, put out your tongue!" She did so-" Now keep it there;" was the rejoinder. This apparent rudeness had from the lady volumes of report,' every body was told of the circumstance; a younger lady, known to the writer, and more apt, to whom it had been told, and also one of his patients, was bade by him-"Miss, put out your tongue!" Looking in his face most archly, after a moment's hesitation, she said "Ah! Doctor; but before I do so, I should like to know, whether I shall be permitted to take it in again?"

J. M.

PORT NATAL AND ITS COLONIAL CONDITION.

MR. WILLIS gladly avails himself of this friendly communication for Current Notes, from a far distant land; as the writer is a gentleman of independent means, liberally disposed, and unbiassed in his observation of these pertinent remarks made on the spot, may tions. Facts are stubborn materials, and the disseminaadd considerably in improving the position of persons who might from this or previous representation be induced to emigrate thither.

Durban, Port Natal, July 15.

Your Current Notes of February only reached me by the Mail just arrived. The postal communication here is so bad, that at present nearly eight months are required to receive an answer to a letter. The Catalogue of Books makes me wish I had the wings of lightning, that I might be with you, if only for a few hours for a supply of good books. Here, being a new colony, books are very scarce; people have neither time nor means to procure them. There is a moderately mixed collection belonging to the Natal Society, at Pietermaritzburg, the city and capital, as well as the see of a Bishop. The Society receives from the Government fifty pounds annually, for which they allow the public admission to the Library gratis. Subscribers of ten shillings can take the books home for reading. The Rev. Robert Moffat, well known in the Missionary world, has lent them a good collection relating to South Africa, which have very much interested me; as here, I can better appreciate them, and similar scenes are almost daily offered to my view. It is amusing to notice the palpable factions into which the writers are divided-that is, whether for, or against the Missionaries; from my own knowledge the Missionaries have done no good; and in conversation with many zealous religionists, they generally admit that no progress has been made in converting the natives.

There is another small collection of books in the Mechanics' Institute at Durban, but they are unimportant.

The Caffre or black population of Natal belong to the Negro race, having woolly hair, flat noses and thick lips; they are however very superior to the Negroes of the West, or Guinea coast, though barbarians of a low grade, having no religious ceremonies, and are so low in intellect, that all traditions of either religion or history with them are forgotten. They have a few absurd prejudices-such as refusing the flesh of pigs and fowls; this, I believe, they have derived from the Mahommedans. They are nearly naked, but by a recent ordinance of the Lieutenant-Governor, they are in Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Ladismith, the three principal towns of the colony, compelled to clothe themselves. Nearly the whole of the blacks are refugees, or their descendants, from the neighbouring tribes of Zoolus, Maccatees, Amapondas, etc.; a few under their chief Omnini, appear to belong to the aboriginal race; or, at least, are the oldest inhabitants of the country-the aboriginals

of which were almost mercilessly annihilated by the monster Charka, a former chief of the Zoolus. The only memorials of the older inhabitants I have found, are some hundred miles from the coast, consisting of circular stone kraals, probably when first erected they may have been six feet high; a similar kind of stonework is still practised by the Maccatees beyond the Quathlambas. Should the present race of barbarians be exterminated, the writings of the white man will be their only memorial; as their works are of the slightest kind, which a very few years would wholly destroy. The dead are thrown into the bush to be devoured by the first wild animal that comes, and if all is true as reported, the lions, tigers, and alligators prefer black to white flesh.

The young men are generally a fine athletic race, some with their hair trimmed like a bishop's wig, others work it up as high as possible in front, which gives them a ferocious look; after a certain age they attain some higher grade, when the hair on the top of the head is shaved off with an assegai or spear, and the remainder is in a very ugly style, formed into a circular band, held together on the top by a black gum. The women are in complete bondage, doing all the work, whilst their husbands are enjoying themselves; they are bought in the same way as cattle-some men will have five or six, according to their wealth-in fact, it is no uncommon thing to see an ugly old brute with his youngest wife, not more than sixteen. The women, as they get old, become most disgusting hags, and all have an offensive effluvia arising from them. The real gentlemen of the colony are the blacks, who spend their time in dancing, singing the most dismal ditties, smoking and snuffing, which last feat they perform to such an extent, that the tears run down their cheeks. No idea of gratitude is perceptible, force only acts on them-in this respect they are worse since their subjection to British rule. The boys who go out to service with the colonists, receive five shillings per month and their food, which costs about five shillings more. Porridge or boiled Indian corn, here called Mealies, constitute their food, with meat for one meal during the week. Beef sells at Durban for three-pence per pound for the best cuts, and at Pietermaritzburg for two-pence; inferior cuts are less in price.

The Blacks exceed one hundred thousand; the English are four thousand; and there are about four thousand Dutch Boers, Africanders by birth, who are emigrants from Cape Colony. To a traveller, this colony is particularly interesting, as it is almost in a state of nature; I have visited many foreign countries, but never saw one so slightly occupied before. No cultivated lands with hedge rows, houses, towns and villages meet the eye, nothing, save a few trifling patches, but a boundless uncultivated space.

From the port to the capital, the distance exceeds fifty miles; thence to Ladismith, one hundred miles further. The scenery on the coast land is much the finest, and more picturesque, as it abounds with trees

and bushes, of a park like character; but this part is greatly infested with myriads of insects, some of them of the most beautiful form and colour. The ticks, or bush-lice are horribly annoying - they penetrate into the skin, and there remain until extracted; to cattle they are particularly troublesome.

Beyond the coast the country is almost destitute of wood, excepting in kloofs, in which antelopes, tigers, wolves, and wild animals abound; occasionally a large tract is seen covered with acacia bushes, the mimosa, and other varieties; Inanda, Uys Dorus, Blue Krantz districts, are of this character, and greatly embellish the landscape.

Byrne, who got up the vile emigration scheme some six years ago, described the country as gently undulating; the very reverse is the fact, as the whole country is, one after another, a mass of flat-topped hills. Still, from the coast to Pietermaritzburg, the ascent is but fifteen hundred feet; while the pass over the Quathlamba range of mountains, which separate the colony from the Orange River Free State, is not more than five thousand feet above the level of the sea. These mountains are the highest point of this part of Africa; the rivers from this point taking different coursesthose on the Western side flowing into the Atlantic, while those on the Eastern side pass into the Indian Ocean. The view from the summit of the Quathlambas is very extensive, but with the bright blue sky of Natal it is dangerous to say how far the eye can reach in returning, I distinctly recognised some of the craggy points seventy miles distant. Some of the highest points were coated with snow at the end of May, which is the beginning of winter; on the plains the snow seldom lays for twenty-four hours-when it does, the consequences are disastrous to the cattle. The sun being powerful in the middle of the day makes, by comparison, the nights feel colder.

of

Their mode of travelling here, is by waggons, drawn by fourteen oxen; each waggon will carry a load of three thousand pounds weight, and will accomplish on an average about sixteen miles each day; on a long distance this is however felt to be very tedious, but there are no tavern bills to pay on the road. At night the oxen are loosened to feed themselves on the grass the open country; the Caffres sleep during the night under the waggons, and the master or traveller inside, protected by the waggon tent. Sufficient provisions, kettles and pans are always provided, and carried for the journey. At particular seasons, there are a large number of waggons out-farmed for the night. I have seen so many as thirty, which with fourteen oxen to each, and three persons to each waggon, making a total of 420 oxen and ninety people, present round the campfire, a very animated scene in the wilderness, the travellers spinning long yarns of adventures and hairbreadth escapes, not surpassed by the extraordinary averments of Baron Munchausen.

Good grazing land in the upper districts can be bought from the Dutch Boers, who, when Natal was first con

stituted a British colony, had it freely granted to them by the British Government at from sixpence to ninepence per acre; the Government upset price to settlers is four shillings per acre. Oxen, of a large size, are fifty shillings each: Caffre sheep, an inferior breed with huge tails, six shillings each; Merino sheep are nominally twelve shillings each, but they are scarce, and retained by the farmers in improving their flocks. Goats are ordinarily four shillings each. The great and probably the only drawback to the more rapid development of Natal as a colony, is the too general apparent want of capital, and there being too many people here as settlers, who have come from the manufacturing districts. WILLIAM BOYNE.

O John! what changes since I saw thee last, Thy fishing and thy shooting days are past. Bagpipes and Hautboys thou shalt sound no more, Thy nods, grimaces, and thy winks are o'er; Thy wildish, queerish, incoherent talk, Thy jests, vivacity, and trudging walk, Will soon be quite forgot-thy joys on earth A Snuff, a glass; riddles and noisy mirth Are vanish'd all-yet blest I hope thou art, For in thy station well thou'st play'd thy part. On the reverse of the stone are ensculptured representations of a gun, fishing-rod, powder-flask, grouse, hares, fish, hounds, etc.

Captain Warner's long range was to have been accomplished by a balloon, carrying bomb-shells and other destructive missiles, charged with detonating powers; but as to the certainty of aim, nothing could be more uncertain, as he found to his cost; for as the balloon must have been at the disposal of the wind, its direction would consequently be uncertain, the wind being ever beyond human control. The whole scheme was a delusion, as I can testify. My ALBION balloon was purchased by the projector, and by a failure, wholly unforeseen by him, was destroyed in an experiment. CHARLES GREEN, Aeronaut.

Tuffnell Park, Holloway.

ORIEL WINDOW.-Will any reader of Current Notes give the derivation of the word Oriel, and why a window is so called? Oriel College at Oxford, was so called, it is said, from the building there, in which the fresh members resided, before the college was erected, being called La Oriol, or Oriel; and that over the gateway of the College, was a window of such peculiar construction, that thence was derived the appellation of an Oriel window? I have carefully searched every French and English Dictionary, but without meeting with either of the words La Oriol, or Oriel.

Was the so-called Oriel window known before the building of the College? If so, what is the meaning of the word? Dover, Oct. 4. A.

ARCHDEACON Nares in his Glossary, after stating that the word Oriel is supposed by some to be a diminutive of Area, or Areola, observes: "In modern writings we meet with mention of Oriel Windows. I doubt the propriety of the expression, but if right, they must mean those windows that project like a porch or small room. I may be wrong of Oriel window, but I have not met with ancient authority for that expression." Dr. Milner, designates it "a feature in the last and worst state of what is called gothic, and different from a bow-window: the latter being the segment of a circle, whilst the former is made up of angles or straight lines; being generally the half of a pentagon, hectagon, or octagon."*

The primary use of Oriel, appears to have implied a penthouse, or covered way, a porch; it may possibly be derived from the Saxon open-helan, i.e. tegere? Over-hele, by elision O'er-hele, is an English word, meaning to cover over; so in Ben Jonson's Masques at Court:

"Thy rude voice, that doth so hoarsely blow,

Thy hair, thy beard, thy wings, o'er hel'd with snow." Transmuted by the usual process, into the Latin of the middle ages, O'er-hele, the noun, would readily become Oreilum.

The Pipe Roll 1234, 18 Hen. III., notices the charge expended" in quadam Capella pulchra et decenti facienda ad caput [meaning probably on the top of] Orioli camere Regis in castro Herefordie, de longitudine XX pedum." On the same record, but in an entry of the following year, the position of the Oriel itself, is elsewhere plainly declared, "in uno magno Oriollo pulchro et competenti, ante ostium magne camere Regis castro de Kenilworth faciendo, vil. xvis. ivd.”

Oriel College in Oxford was first founded by King Edward II., in honour of the Blessed Virgin, but King Edward III. bestowing on the Provost and Fellows, or Scholars, "a large messuage, then commonly called and written La Oriole," the community leaving their old habitation of Tackley's Inn, afterwards Bulkley Hall, moved thither. This "large messuage" was evidently distinguished by some stately porch or vestibule, of sufficient consequence to create the appellation of "La Oriole" to the entire

edifice.

• History of Winchester, vol. ií. p. 283.

The extract from the Pipe Roll, in reference to the room built upon the Oriel for a chapel, shows it was doubtless an apartment that jutted over the porch, and as applied to other mansions, connected with the great chamber, was often fitted for the purposes of an oratory; and to separate it from secular uses, as well as to afford sufficient light to such of the domestics as could not be accommodated within such a limited space, but were directed to attend in the adjoining room, an open screen would in such cases constitute the separation; this seems to be implied, in the Lexicon Anglo-Latini, 1440, Harl. MS. 221, when it explains the "Oryel of a wyndowe," by "Cancellus." The Legend of the Earl of Tolous, in Ritson's Metrical Romances, shews the application of Oriel to a chapel porch, by the side of which an anxious lover is enjoined to watch, that he may see the lady as she enters to perform her devotions.

The Oriel chamber appears not to have been the Oriel passage, but the large room to which the Oriel, either open, or closed by a screen or door, was an appendage: Thus, in Ordinatio pro victu Fratris Johannis Asheli dudum Prioris de Daventre, 1420; habeat cameram quandam in eodem Prioratu vulgariter appellatam ly Oryal; and more positively defined in the computus of Maxtoke Priory, 1447, where wine is said to have been bestowed on the company when Sir Symon Montford's fool exhibited his merriment, "in camera Orioli."

Oriel, as used in the old romances, seems also to mean, that the apartment over the porch, was by ladies occupied as a boudoir; so in the Squyr of Lowe Degree

"In her Oryall there she was
Closed well with royall glas."

And further, had doubtless an affinity to the embowered or bower windows, as in the old ballad

"Lady Annis [Agnes] she sate in her bower window, A knitting of her night coif, etc." Our correspondent is referred to the Archæologia, vol. xxiii. pp. 105-116, for much that will interest him on this subject.

Chelmsford, Oct. 2.

S. C.

505-507.

MONTGOMERY'S LECTURES AND HYMNS. THE following inedited and interesting letter of JAMES MONTGOMERY refers to his Lectures and Hymns; of the latter he mentions their being pillaged by ministers of the Gospel, in their Congregational Selections, with variations in the text, irrespective of his own opinions, to suit their creed. Stamford. J. E. BROGDEN.

DEAR SIR,-In reply to your obliging enquiry, I beg to inform you, that my Lectures on Poetry, published in 1833, have long been out of print, and I know not where a copy can be procured, having myself only one. They have, indeed, been frequently asked for, especially when I was delivering in London and elsewhere a second series of our British Poets, which have never been committed to the press at all. My booksellers, who are preparing a new edition of my poems, were disposed to incorporate the former course of Lectures with these, but I declined, thinking that the increase of bulk to a handsome octavo volume, in double columns, according People's to the fashion of what are affectedly called Editions," would be rather an incumbrance than an Both courses enhancement to the work so arranged. of the Lectures were well received in the metropolis, and in several of the provincial cities and towns; but the published course went off so deliberately, that I did not think it expedient to reprint the volume, for I found that hearers were more readily attracted than readers, partly, no doubt, from personal curiosity and the social enjoyment of looking and listening in mass at a face, and to a voice, (of which each had previously only a vague idea), associated with a name somewhat notorious.

If life and health, with a sound mind, be spared to me a little longer, I propose to collect, revise, and publish my original hymns, many of which, from the "Christian Psalmist," and fugitive copies not in that book, have been borrowed and adopted by clergymen and ministers of different denominations, in their several congregational selections, with or without leave of the author; and, in some flagrant instances, altered" for better or for worse" at hazard, by good people, who, not quite approving of my thoughts or phrases have felt no scruple to make me responsible for theirs. I wish, however, if Christian people avail themselves of compositions in this class, they would either accept them as they are, or at least, (which a few have done), consult the author, before they mend or mar them for their own satisfaction; not being aware that in most of such cases, the original reading will be preferred by the multitude to the factitious erasures and interpolations of empherical meddlers with things which they do not understand, or cannot appreciate for want of taste.

I can hardly hope to have patience and perseverance enough (even if time be lengthened to me) to prepare my manuscript Lectures for publication, though should I be tempted to do this under favourable circumstances, the two Series, or rather three, (for there is an anterior set of four on "General Literature;") may be conve

niently printed in a volume of moderate size, should my booksellers be pleased to hazard the cost, and the same might be sold at the price of the first portion already in print, or rather out of print, as the work is now, and likely to remain for any enterprize of mine.

Pray excuse these impertinences, and with thanks for the kindly spirit of your communication, believe me, truly and respectfully,

Your obliged friend and servant,

J. MONTGOMERY. The Mount, near Sheffield, Nov. 21, 1849.

KIRK CANDLESTICKS AT MONTROSE AND BRECHIN.

THE candlestick or herse is an article of great antiquity in churches, and possibly originated in tapers being lighted in memory of deceased persons in Roman Catholic times. Their old classical name was Arbores so called from their similarity to trees-the lights, being placed on the projecting branches. The earliest were of wood; and when metal came into use, they were made of various and elegant designs, of which those now suspended from the roofs of the parish

SUNDAY SPORTS, TEMP. Q. ELIZABETH. "There be some sports are painful, but their labour, Delight in them sets off."

Tempest, Act. iv. sc. 1.

The following license, from the original formerly among the Evelyn papers, will possibly be interesting to many readers of Current Notes, as indicating the sports then most attractive with our countrymen, all conducive to their stalwart manly bearing, though the performance on the Sunday, while it did not cause an abstraction from their labours during the working days of the week, may still be considered as a lingering remain of the practice of the Sabbath profanation usual in the dominant days of popish thraldom.

To all Majors, Shereffes, Constables and other Hed Officers, within the Countie of Middlesex.

After our hartie Commendations, Whereas We are informed that one John Seconton Powlter, dwellinge within the Parishe of St. Clements Daines, beinge a poore Man, hauinge foure small Children, and fallen into Decaye, ys lycensed to haue and use some Playes and Games, at or uppon nyne seuerall Sundies, for his better Releif, Comforte, and Sustentacion, within the Countie of Middlesex, to commense and begynne at and from the xxij Daie of Maye next comynge, after the Date hereof, and not to remayne in one Place, not aboue thre seuerall Sondaies: And we consideringe that greate resorte of People is lyke to come thereunto, We will and require you, as well for good Order, as also for the Preseruation of the Queen's Majesty's Peace, that you take with you four or fyue of the discrete and substancial Men within your Office or Libertie, where the Games shall be put in practice, then and there to forsee and doo your endeuour to your best in that behalf duringe the Contynuance of the Games or Playes, which Games are hereafter seuerallie mencyoned, that is to say, the Shotinge with the Standerd; the Shotinge with the Brode Arrowe; the Shotinge at the twelve score Prick; the Shotinge at the Turke; the Leppinge for Men; the Runninge for Men; the wrastlinge; the Throwinge of the Sledge; and the Pytchinge of the Barre, with all such other Games, as haue at anye tyme heretofore, or now be lycensed, used or played.

Yeouen the xxvith Daie of Aprill [1569] in the eleuenth yere of the Quene's Majesty's Raigne.

mens. These are both made of brass, and that at Montrose is about four feet in height. It consists of a large globe and shaft, surmounted by an elegant moulding of an angel with outstretched wings, resting on a dolphin. It has sixteen branches, divided into two rows of eight each-the lower row projects about 24 inches from the shaft, and the upper about 18 inches. These words are engraved round the globe :

-

RICHARDVS CLARK MONTROSE NATVS

NVNC AVTEM VICE-ADMIRALIS REGIS SVEDLE CHRISTIANE FIDI TESTIMONIO HVIVS TEMPLI ORNAMENTO

COGNATIS SVIS CETERIS

QVE HVIVS VRBIS INCOLIS PRISTINI ET INTEGRI AMORIS PIGNORI ENÆVM HOC CANDELABRVM HIC EREGI FECIT ANNO MDCXXIII.

In addition to this inscription, there are the figures of Justice, with balance and sword, and of St. George and the Dragon; and under the name Richard Clark, these armorial bearings on a shield-1, and 4, a tree proper; 2, and 3, fesse chequé. Crest, a tree proper. Under Christiana Lamb, are the same arms, with the Holy Lamb bearing a staff and flag, and St. Andrew's cross thereon, for crest.

Although the Montrose chandelier has little ornament, the branches being quite plain and undecorated, that at Brechin, though neither so large, nor so frequently cleaned, has the formality of its branches tastefully relieved by vine leaves clustering around them; and, instead of the globe, is an ornamented conical figure reversed, divided into two unequal parts, with ten branches projecting about 18 inches from it. The upper portion consists of an elegant shaft, to which four other branches are attached, projecting about a foot, and the whole is surmounted by a beautifully graceful figure of an angel kneeling, with uplifted hands.

This lamp was also presented to the kirk, though it bears no inscription to that effect; but a board in the Session-house, on which gifts to the kirk for nearly 250 years back are recorded, bears, under date 1615, that Andrew, Bishop of Brechin gifted the hearse before the pulpit.' Andrew was the thirtieth Bishop of

Brechin from the foundation of the see in 1150, and the second after the Reformation. His surname was Lamb, whether related to Christiana Lamb above noticed, cannot be said; but, prior to his elevation to the bishopric, which took place in 1610, he was parson at Burntisland.

M