THE JOURNAL,

Extracts from the Journal of Dr.
Kitchener's Noted Conversations, by
T. Meddling, Captain of a Light
"Assu-
Company, and Author of
rance, the Wanderer;" a Romance
of Real Life.

PREFACE.

"A great Author is of no parish. His works are public property. They are injunctionless, and may be pirated by every Benbow on the face of the globe. His meat is for every mouth!"-Such were the enlightened sentiments of Dr. Kitchener, Am I not right, therefore, in picking as much as I can from his worthy old bones, and making a hash of his joints for my own repast? The Doctor has no country-he has no property. Every child may put a finger in his plate. He is as much the offspring of Benbow as of Constable and Co. “I will carve him as a dish for the gods!" (p.ii.)

THE JOURNAL, &c. During the few minutes the Doctor was engaged in finishing a receipt for calf's foot jelly, I took the opportunity of drawing his portrait in my pocketbook. He sat with his back to me, so that I had every opportunity of completing the picture, and unobserved.

From his appearance behind I should judge him to be under sixty years of age, several feet high, and of a remarkably youthful aspect. As was said of Mr. Paap, the Dwarf, he narrowly escaped being loug and thin. His face was firm his forehead extending almost to the back of his head he looked florid and melancholy. His hair was grey, graceful, and perfectly straight, and his head seemed to be assimilating itself fast He to" the sleek last Maw-worms.

was very long behind. In criticizing
his features, it might perhaps be said
that his eyes were too near his ears, and
that they differed in size, in the propor-
tion of half-a-crown to a sixpence, which
gave his look a fine irregular expres-
sion. His eyes had a peculiar brilliancy
when looking at the fire, and set your
feelings quite upon a simmer. His teeth
seemed competent to any joint, and I
afterwards found that he was very par
ticular in his use of them.

"I am sorry, said he, not to have a
copy of my Cook's Oracle to show you.
I gave it to Fitzgerald, or rather to
Fitzgerald's nine little children, at
Turnham-green. I remember saying
here are 2000lbs. for you, my young
Fry. I made one reservation in the
gift-that I was to share the profits as
long as I lived with Constable, and that
he was to have the whole at my death.”

391

"I have no objection to copies being bought. In fact, the work had gone through many editions. Among others, Mrs. Roger, the banker, borrowed a copy, and on returning it, admitted that she had transcribed every useful receipt. This was shabby: and we put her on the kitchen fire. Ever since this happened, Alderman Birch has been urging me to take the Mes S into my own hands. There are few bad stews or wretched broils in which I have been concerned in the book. The second volume will prove a good lesson to old Cooks, for it will treat of improper courses, and will shew the fatal consequences of dissipation with Cape wine. It will deal with few dishes that may not, and none that will not, be relishing to old gentlemen,-(P. 34, 35.)

At another time he said,

"A very full account of my best broil is contained in the Cook's Oracle: after it was completed I rcqusted Mrs. Kitchener would taste it. She declined." —(P. 35.)

66

When I married, and I cannot recollect the time, my wife and I had separate kitchens; this could not last long. Pounds and pounds melted away before the two fires. My last knuckle of veal, which we had to dine upon, was seized by the Sheriff, who had no bowels in committing such an act. Mrs. Kitchener went to a country town for a short period, until the spit and the times should turn round. She wrote to me the price of the markets; and you will judge of the terms on which poultry was parted with when she commenced her letter with," Dear Duck."

I

"I have prejudices about women. like to see thein eat. Mrs. Glasse liked her glass, and was un peu gourmande ; 1 do not like to be interrupted in my her cutlets are not at all to my taste. victuals. Mrs. Kitchener once came in, in the middle of a made dish. I was

standing before the kitchen fire ruminating over it; she came up and said, "Kitchener! am I in your kitchen ?" to which I replied “Damnably." I af terwards informed against myself for the oath, and was fined. Sir Richard Birnie hardly understood what I said." ~(P. 42.)

"The gravest accusation that has been made against me is that of having admired Mrs. Grove of the English Opera House, and of introducing her There to old Mr. Linley, &c. &c. never was a more unfounded calumny.'

(To be concluded in our next.)

22

THE PORTFOLIO.

LONDON, FEBRUARY 26, 1825.

CONVERSAZIONE OF THE
EDITOR.-No. 6.

THE Red Woman of Berlin suggest-
ed to me the construction of a machine,
at once of simplicity and power, with
which a spectre of similar character
might conveniently, and without much
risk of discovery, be exhibited with a
greatly increased effect. The Red
Woman's construction I have already
explained; the more astounding traits
of her character. and the most terrifying
of her freaks, were clearly produced by
confederacy. She appeared to many
different persons at the same time, at
distant places, by a very simple and pal-
pable contrivance. Several of the ma-
chines were constructed, and each was
entrusted to the management of an ex-
pert and trusty agent. Admission to
the King's apartments was purchased
by bribes of an amount to overcome more
serious scruples than those of a menial
servant. A few persons (and a very
few of these did wonders) of character
for general veracity were induced by re-
presentations, and by influence as va-
rious as the temper and circumstances
of the parties required, to testify to
alarms they never felt, to frights they
never experienced. Others of timorous
character were selected, and such
important crises of their private affairs
and feelings selected as entirely pre-
disposed them to excessive agitation
and alarm, and thus drew them com-
pletely into the widening and (as re-
spected them and their ever-exaggerat-
ed reports) unconscious confederacy.
The little machine I conceived, being
however intended for no mischievous
pranks, was to present new and more
surprising effects, to be conducted with
economy, with a simplicity of manage.
ment rendering it accessible almost to
a child, and requiring in a rational and
blameless use, no confederacy what-
ever. The suggestions which arose in
desultory conversations with the philo-

sophical friends, with whom on such oc
casions I was commonly associated,
with my own habits of mechanical com-
bination, a free use of my pencil, and a
professional acquaintance with the
practical arrangements of optical con-
trivances, very quickly produced the
following apparatus, with which my
young readers may economically supply
themselves, with the assistance (as
have before hinted) of the optician and
the carpenter, and with which, when
they have so provided themselves, they
may defy the best concerted wonders of
the Red Woman, or any contrivance
with which the best informed, or the
vored the curious or the credulous.
most mischievous persons have yet fa-

The subjoined Engraving will be ne-
Cessary to a sufficient understanding of
pyramidical form, and of eighteen
its construction. Fig. 1 is a box of
inches in length. Its larger extremity
inches deep by six inches wide; and
seven inches square, or rather say eight
its smaller end six inches high or deep
by three and a half inches wide. Let
the larger end be fitted with a glass
ground grey, such precisely as is found
in windows through which it is not in-
tended to look, or such (but somewhat
coarser in its grain) as we find receiv-
ing the optical picture in the common
camera obscura. At the smaller end let
the small magic lantern (which is again
represented, and in detail at Fig. 4,) be
fixed firmly, and let a slit be formed in
admit the little slide which contains the
the proper place inside of the box to
figures to be exhibited. In the Engrav-
ing, A is the lantern, B the slide of
paintings, E the larger end of the box
spectral or other FACE and face alone,
containing the ground glass, and G a
painted on the ground glass from the
small magic lantern and slide A and B.
F F is a sufficient quantity of horse
hair, or any similar and suitable dress
for the face exhibited. C is a tin shut-
ter, which is kept by a spring in its up-
right position, in which it performs the
office of closing the aperture of the lan-
tern,and of course of preventing the pro-
duction of the figure. When the figure
is to be exhibited,
through the bottom of the box is pulled
a string passed
and held by the operator, the shutter is
thus pulled into the horizontal position
D, and the figure is produced. It re-
mains as long as the operator chooses
to hold the string, and when he wishes
the figure to vanish instantly, he has
but to release the string he holds, and
the spring throws up the shutter, leav
ing the lantern entirely closed; the

ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGINAL PHANTASMAGORIA.

figure of course has vanished quicker perhaps than by any other possible contrivance, unquestionably both quicker and with more precision and certainty than Dr. Philipsthal could effect it. The whole machine thus prepared is either carried in the hand or borne on a staff of convenient length fixed into the tin socket seen below the box. In Fig. 2 is a contrivance by which, under a little difference of arrangement, the whole machine is fixed firmly on a stout leather cap H worn by the operator, and fastened under his chin; he thus bears the apparition about, with unincumbered hands, and having approached the point at which he purposes to make the exhibition of his figure, he has but to turn his back to it, having previously pulled the string F, and his spectre is present, which he has himself in the best and most unembarrassed position, to flee at the proper moment, and with the speed which may be necessary to avoid detection. Much in this arrangement of course depends on the cap being constructed of firm materials, and its being well fixed to the head, chin, and shoulders. The Fig. 3 is the slide of paintings which should have two figures of the same face, with some striking variation of countenance, or another face altogether different.

The face exhibited may thus be made instantaneously to change its aspect, or to give place to another of different character, and this faculty of the machine might evidently be extended almost without limit. In the simple arrangement, such as the figure before us, the change is made by pulling the slide by its rings, either to the right or left, till its further passage is checked by the projecting pieces at the two ends. Fig. 5 is a diagram, shewing the optical construction of this magic lantern. A is the lamp of illumination; B is the large lens, which is the half of a sphere of two and a half inches radius. C is a plano convex lens of one inch diameter, and three and a half inches focal length, placed with its convex side next towards the lamp. D is the slit or aperture for the painting.

I should here remind my young friends to look back to the last Number for a scene of an example of this exhibition, in which a youth bears the apparition, which, in addition to the wig of horse hair, has a beard of the same materials, and a wrapping (garment of ample dimensions; the latter (except under peculiar circumstances) may however be dispensed with.

To be continued in our next, when the Engraving will appear.

393

THE ROCK AND FORTRESS OF

GIBRALTAR.

AMONGST the substantial wonders of the world, very rationally and without overstraining the expression,may be placed the Rock and Fortress of Gibraltar.

We intend giving an eugraving in our best style of this extraordinary and felicitous combination of natural and artificial strength, from an original drawing.

The memorable siege of Gibraltar, by the combined and utmost exertions of France and Spain, which ended in their destruction by the novel defence by the brave Elliott, is fresh and ever living in the memory of every English bosom. The red-hot balls of Gibraltar, and the tremendous and colossal battering-ships of Spain, have been painted in the imagination of every British youth; but however strange it may appear, we haye few,-nay, we may say we have no representation of that particular scene, or of the fortress itself, which is at once satisfactory and within convenient reach of purchase. We shall then endeavour, as far as our scale allows us to do so, to supply the want. Of description we shall say little, for obvious reasons. The history of Gibraltar, so glorious to Englishmen, is remembered in its brightest points, as we remember the creed of our religion; but few of us can picture to himself any distant idea of the actual scene. We shall be easily excused more than to say, what we feel, that it is utterly impossible for description to give an adequate idea of this stupendous structure, which looks like the work of centuries, and which in its appearance presents the highest character of sublimity and power.

CHRONOLOGY FOR THE YEAR
1824.
JULY.

J. Thomas Thurtell, brother of the murderer, and James Snowden, sentenced to two years' imprisonment in Newgate for endeavouring to obtain money falsely from the County Fire Office, by pretending loss of goods by fire.

sited in the house of Sir Edward 7. The remains of Lord Byron depoKnatchbull, Great George-street, West

minster.

King of Spain on the discovery of Ame A copy of Columbus's letter to the rica sells for 34 guineas.

The executors of Lord Byron ob tain an injunction to restrain the publi

cation of some private letters written by him to his mother.

8. Death of the Queen of the Sandwich Islands at Osborne's Hotel in the Adelphi. The King very ill.

10. Mr. Henry Baring, M. P., reco vers 10001. damages of Captain Web-, ster, in an action for crim. con. The defendant had suffered judgment to go by default.

12. The remains of Lord Byron conveyed from London amidst an immense concourse of people to Newstead Abbey. The body of James II., King of England, discovered in a leaden box, on digging the foundation for the steeple for the new church of St. Germain, at

Paris.

17. Colonel Trench proposes a plan for forming a terrace on the north side of the river, from London to Westminster-bridge.

24. Dreadful fire in Chancery-lane.

AUGUST.

1. News arrived of the defeat and

massacre of the British forces at Cape Coast Castle by the Ashantees.

2. Letters from Frankfort state, that an imperial edict was passed forbidding Lord Holland, Lady Morgan, and three other ladies, to enter the Austrian territories.

9. Trial of John Carroll, a Roman Catholic priest, for the wilful murder of Catherine Linnott, a child three years and a half old, at the Wexford Assizes, in Ireland. After a long trial the pri soner was acquitted on the ground of insanity, the Jury being of opinion that this dreadful act was committed under the influence of the most violent religious enthusiasm. The prisoner to be shut up for life as a dangerous person.

10. Official accounts received of the

Spirit of the Magazines.

A VIEW IN THE HORSE BAZAAR.

In England the persons who particularly interest themselves about horses consist of three distinct classes, the individuals of each of which have as for those who are quicksighted in such marked and peculiar an air about them, matters, as if they wore a distinct cos tume. The first of these classes con-:

sists of the young bloods of family and fashion, chiefly military, with whom an acquaintance with horses is only one (though the principal) among their many personal accomplishments. The second class consists of those of various ranks in life, from the highest to the secondary part of the middle, whose passion for horses absorbs and supersedes all others. The third class consists of those truly knowing hands, who live by administering to the fancies and inclinations of the two former.

You'll find that the company at the of the above three classes; and when Horse Bazaar consists almost entirely you've been half as long "about town" as I have, you'll be able to distinguish an individual of each of them by his mere air, as well as if you could look into his heart or his pocket-book. The two last, indeed, have an express costume, that is scarcely at all amenable to the decrees of fashion, and has un

dergone very little change as long as I

can remember-none at all indeed, with a single exception appertaining to the apparel of the legs which we shall have occasion to notice hereafter. The first class, however, is much too fanciful to answer the above description. It does not keep in the same mind for more than a season together, even in regard to the class of animal it chooses to patronize, or the mode in which it 13. Lord Gifford decides in the Court should be used;-now running all upon of Chancery, that letters, written confi-bony hunters-now scorning to be borne dentially to another, cannot be published by that party to whom they were addressed without the consent of the writer. (Batfield v. Childe.)

taking of the Island of Ipsara by the

Turks.

15. The Vice Chancellor undergoes an operation for the stone.

A Board of Admiralty formed in

France.

23. His Majesty, in the wish of conferring some mark of honourable distinction on Mr. Wyatt, the architect, grants him authority to go by the name of Wyattville.

(September in our next.)

by anything but full blood-and now infinitely contemptuous towards any thing but the managed graces of an am bling Arabian or a Spanish Jennet. less fickle, too, in the affair of horsemanThese high-bred persons are scarcely ship-patronizing the hunting seat, the military seat, and the knowing or slang seat by turns, just as the leader of the season happens to be affected at the commencement of it. We can scarcely fanciful in regard to the attire of their expect, then, that they should be less: own proper persons.

Look at that stable-door on the left, which has just opened to emit from within that sprig of English nobility.

VIEW IN THE HORSE BAZAAR.

But let us not use any epithets in regard to him that can be construed contemptu ously; for contempt is the last feeling his mere appearance is calculated to excite; and it is that alone about which we are concerning ourselves. In fact,

"His port I love he looks as if

He'd chide the thunder if at him it
roar'd."

The truth is, that our young nobility of the present day are very noble looking persons, and that their manners and habits, as well as their appearance, have undergone a striking change for the better, within a very few years: with their morals, of course, you and I have nothing to do; those we leave to their mammas. It was the fashion, a short time ago, to tax them with effe minacy; and is so still among a certain class of inquirers, as if that were not the very last fault that can fairly be laid to their charge. Why even you, Frank, will be surprised, and perhaps pleased to learn, that a soft hand is a mere vulgarism now-a-days, and that the real thing is to ride on horseback without gloves!

But let us return to our example of the first class of company who frequent the Horse Bazaar. With what an air he stands-looking down upon the man he is addressing (for it is the fashion to be six feet high-his little earlship of Ue nevertheless notwithstand·ing)—yet without the slightest assumption of superiority; for why should he "assume a virtue" which he possesses? And with what an air of half- assumed,

half-sincere deference the man who is listening to his orders looks up to him! 1 would bet odds, by the air of each, that a bargain has been struck between them, and that both know that the buyer has been taken in. Not that the horse is a bad one; for the lord is likely to know pretty nearly as much about that matter as the jockey. But he has given a score or so of pounds more than if he had chosen to wait for the public sale. But what matter? He has a fancy for the horse, and he will have it. And as for the price, that will only enable him, if he shouldn't happen to like it, the better to oblige his young friend from Oxford, who wants "exactly such

a horse!"

But we are digressing. Observe his head-you shall not see a finer in a long summer's day; and you shall not see the like of it any where but in England, and in this class of English life. True, there is not, in the face, the elevation of the poet, or the thoughtfulness of the sage, or the piercing saga

895

city of the statesman and philosopher. But there are the rudiments of all these; and (what is worth them all) that fine placidity which cannot consist with them, and which results from that truly philosophic indifference which nobody has ever found out the secret of so fully as our modern English men of pleasure. You'll say I'm getting sententious. class of persons I am describing, and The truth is, I've a real respect for the think them as superior to the "men of pleasure about town," in the time of Charles and Anne, as the entire want of pretence and petitmaitreship is to the presence of these. they might have been any thing that They think that they had pleased: in which they are pretty right,-for most of them have fine natural capacities. And they think that they are just what they wish to be, because what they think best; and in this they are pretty right too. Why, then, should they pretend to be other than they are? I mean they are right is in its full heat and heyday. They for the present, while their high blood are destined to become distinguished so, Heaven knows they had need enjoy statesmen, hereafter, perhaps; and if themselves a little while they may. But I am sacrificing the costume to the The dress of the class of persons I am character, which is against all rule. now describing was never better adapted to its purpose than now; that purpose being to enable the wearer to look entirely different from all other classes point out from what it is that diffe of people, without any one being able to rence arises. And this you are to know is the criterion of a well-dressed man. He shall have on apparel of exactly the same description as that worn by fifty other persons, who shall meet him in the course of the morning; not one of which fifty shall doubt that he is the best-dressed man they have seen; and not one of them shall observe that he is, in fact, dressed the same as they themselves are. What is there conspicuous in a perfectly plain blue frock coat, buttoned up to the throat, a black silk handkerchief, with scarcely any of the white collar seen above it, and a pair of almost black trowsers, cut off straight round the boot, and strapped tight under it? This is the costume of there is an air distingué about it, which the person I am describing. And yet not all the ruffs, velvet, and pointdevices, of Charles's time could give. You will tell me, perhaps, that it is the wearer makes all the difference. But here you are mistaken, I do not mean