From the English Magazines, Nov. 1820. TH The details of the voyage, so far as they have yet appeared, are as follows: The Hecla, Lieut. Parry, and the Griper, Lieut. Soddon, entered by Lancaster Sound, proceeded directly over Captain Ross's special chart of land, and reached in the parallel of 74° or ΩΝ ATHENEUM VOL. 8. 75°, 114° or 115° west, about 550 miles farther than Captain Ross asserted the Polar Sea to be navigable. In 90° they fell in with islands, which continued successively till they reached the extreme westerly point of one nearly in 115°; here winter overtook them, and they turned back several degrees and wintered in a snug harbour in five fathoms water. On the breaking up of the ice this season, attempts were made to proceed westerly; but immense barriers of ice from the Polar Sea to the northward, shut out all hope of succeeding in the parallel of 74°; and before they could return to the eastward and renew the attempt in a lower latitude, the navigable season, which is confined to August and a few days in September, offered no reasonable chance of succeeding this year; independent of which, provisions would not have held out in so precarious and dangerous a navigation for the winter, and the time they would certainly have been frozen up. The existence of a Polar Sea to the westward of "Hearne's River," is incontestibly established. Mackenzie saw it still further to the westward; and by reference to the map, you will see Icy Cape, which most clearly demonstrates the American line of coast. Experience has taught these hardy navigators, that in the month of August such a powerful radiation from the land takes place, as to render a channel sufficient to demonstrate the certainty of the existence of a north-west passage, and that a practicable one, but not open to any possible commercial purposes. 90° the compasses were useless on board; the attraction of the needle was extreme; in one case, it is said 166." To this we may add from private information, that the passage of Lancaster Sound, where Capt. Ross (see his map,) laid down what he called Croker Mountains, was found to be an open channel forty miles broad! The cold during the winter was excessive; the thermometer (Fabrenheit's) descending to even 52° below zero. The vessels are entitled to the 5000l. reward, from having gone to a longitude beyond 110° west of Greenwich. The newspapers also furnish the annexed further observations, from Aberdeen. of their highly interesting voyage have yet transpired, the officers and crew of the vessel confining themselves to casual observations, until their commander shall have laid his journal before the Lords of the Admiralty. We understand that they wintered in latitude 75° N., and in their attempts to explore a passage to the Western Ocean, were as far as 111° W. They wintered in a snug bay, in Lancaster Sound; and did not get clear of the ice till the 5th of August this year. From October till February, or for about 100 days, they were in darkness; but with abundance of wholesome provisions, and other requisite comforts, they passed the time very agreeably. The crew were amused with games of every kind; and occasionally they acted plays for mutual entertainment. As to the main object of the expedition, the discovery of a north-west passage, we cannot yet speak with much confidence. One of the officers with whom we have conversed, entertains not the least doubt upon the subject; but we must wait for Lieut. Parry's observations before we pronounce with certainty. The country will look with great anxiety for the publication of the journal of this voyage. They have been out for about 18 months, having sailed from Sheer "The Hecla came into our bay yesterday for provisions, and sailed in the afternoon for Leith Roads. Her gallant and intrepid commander, Captain Parry, accompanied by his astronomer, came on shore at Peterhead on Monday, and passed through here yesterday, to go by land to London. They part-ness on the 18th May 1819." ed with the Griper in the North Sea, and she is expected up every hour. The Hecla encountered a heavy gale after parting with the Griper, and sustained some damage. Few particulars We have to add, that such good haste is making with Captain Parry's Journal of the Voyage, that the public may look for its appearance within a month. fortune in which many worthy writers have been involved), you, Mr. Editor, can transverso calamo, spare your readers the annoyance of perusing his remarks. Lest, however, you should deem it necessary to exercise your duty at the very commencement, I will close my preface, and proceed to the matter. I know not whether you have heard of the plan, which has been agitated by a party of the college professors, of building a Latin city in France. Probably you will conclude, as many have done, that it is a mere joke. One of our jounals has remarked, that as we do not very well understand each other in French, we must of necessity experience greater difficulty in maintaining mutual communication in the Latin tongue. Terms are now used in the French language, such as the charter, civil and religious liberty, independence, patriotism, &c. which a portion of the nation either do not, or pretend not to comprehend. The charter itself, though drawn up in such French as was currently spoken six years ago, has already been interpreted in two totally different ways, which would lead to the supposition, that it equalled in obscurity the Greek of Lycophron. But the projectors of the new city are probably of opinion, that in course of time Latin will be generally spoken and understood, and that, in the mean while, they may proceed to build. They announced their project about a year ago; but it appears that their plan has since been materially improved. This society of professors, who, whether asleep or awake, dream of nothing but Latin literature, imagine they will succeed in reviving the genius of Cicero and Virgil, if they erect, in the south of France, where the climate resembles that of ancient Latium, a city, all the inhabitants of which, from the magistrate to the cobler, shall be required to speak the language of the Romans. Solecisms and barbarisms will probably be punished in this new Rome, as severely as the crimes set down in the penal code. I presume the founders are to pronounce judgment on the language of the citizens; but it is to be feared, that in procuring female inhabitants for their settlement, they will be exposed to no less difficulty than was experienced by Romulus. If it be necessary, in the first place, to obtain a diploma from a university, how can it be expected that ladies will take the trouble to qualify themselves for the right of residence in this new city? Love, to be sure, sometimes works miracles; but what legislator, even though he should possess the severity of Draco, can think of requiring that a young woman, before marrying, should produce proofs of her knowledge of Latin, and express herself in the classic language of Cornelia, the mother of the Gracchi. And, after all, how will it be possible to prevent some barbarous Gaul from finding his way into the city, and causing the language to degenerate, until it become as corrupt as that of the Diet of Hungary. But other objections are urged against this project; for when a project is set on foot, objections are never wanting. It is alleged, that the language of Livy, Tacitus, and Horace, was suited to the manners, customs, and opinions of their country; and that it is not easy to conceive how the Latin language of the golden age can be adapted to express ideas in an age, which cannot be termed either golden or silver, except by a fortunate few. The human mind must be restored to the point at which it was in the reign of Augustus, and we must possess neither more nor fewer ideas than the contemporaries of Mecænas : now this is impossible, for the human mind is continually advancing to perfection by the experience of succeeding ages. But those who start this objection know not what they say. There is a party here exerting every possible effort to make the present generation retrograde to the notions of the 15th century, and prohibiting as contraband every opinion that rises up at the present day; and as some of these worthies confidently hope to bring France back to the mode of thinking which prevailed in the time of Francis I. may not the society of professors hope to limit the citizens of the town they are about to 288 Manners and Customs-Department of the Upper Alps. found to the ideas of the Augustan age? The building of the city has not, I be lieve, yet commenced. Whenever I learn that the foundation stone of the capitol is laid, I shall not fail to inform you of the event. I have before me the prospectus of another new establishment, to be called the Prytaneum, to which one of the public gardens of Paris is to be appropriated. I cannot tell you how much meaning is conveyed in the learned name Prytaneum. The person who is at the head of the establishment announces" that a complete course of civil and medical gymnastics will be observed; that singing, dancing, fencing, riding, and swimming will be taught; that lessons will be given on eloquence and political economy; that literary sittings will take place, and that festivals will be celebrated in imitation of the ceremonies, customs, and mythologies of different nations; so that, (says the director,) the Prytaneum will include a Gymnasium, a Lyceum, a promenade, and spectacles for summer entertainment." This will indeed be an establishment on the Greek model; and though we shall not perhaps boast of Platos, the glorious days of the Academy may be again revived. But the plan is, I fear, too good to be TR [VOL. 8 carried into effect; and it is probable that the visitors may walk beneath the shade of the plane trees till they are weary, without the felicity of hearing a discussion among the disciples of Socrates. About twelve years ago, M.Jauffret, who is well known for his agreeable works on education, and who was an enthusiast for the revival of ancient customs, endeavoured in vain to restore Academie Promenades. He set to work, it is true, in rather a singular way. The lovers of philosophic conversations inscribed their name on his list, each paying the sum of 12 francs ; and having collected a sufficient number, he thrust them into fiacres, and drove them to his country residence. There he read them a long discourse, and gave them a light breakfast. They then botanized for a short time, and the Professor drew from his pocket another discourse as long as the first, which was followed by a repast worthy of the Pythagoreans. The audience again botanized, and returned to town in the evening, highly edified by the Professor's discourses, and well disposed to make a hearty supper at home. This school, which never produced any philosophers, has long since fallen into oblivion. LETTERS FROM PARIS. NUMBER II. Paris, October 7th, 1820. TRAVELLERS who visit France, proceed almost invariably by the post-roads, which are unquestionably to be preferred for the sake of convenience and expedition. But those who wish to observe the manners and customs of the inhabitants of the provinces, and who do not fear encountering a little fatigue, would do well to deviate from the usual course, and visit those districts where the sight of a foreigner is a sort of phenomenon, and where intercourse with great cities is extremely rare. Such is the department of the oper Alps, respecting which, a very sting publication has recently been produced, by M. de la Daucette, late prefect of that department. In addition to much valuable information on the subjects of antiquity and natural history, the work contains the following curious particulars, relative to the mountaineers of the Upper Alps, who seem to bear a marked resemblance to those of Savoy and Piedmont, "The inhabitants of the Upper Alps sow their grain in the months of June or July; but they do not reap until September in the following year: and when the plains happen to be overwhelmed by avalanches, their harvest does not come on until two years after the period of sowing. It will easily curate make known his situation to the parishioners, and men, women, and children go into the fields and cut down his corn. "About 4000 of these mountaineers are annually compelled by poverty to wander to other parts of the country to gain a livelihood. These emigrants follow various trades and occupations. They become porters, labourers, shepherds, and what is still more strange, teachers. The latter go about with a pen fastened in their hats, and instruct children and even grown persons, during the season when there is little work without doors; and they return home to enjoy the produce of their industry and talent. be guessed, that the peasantry are not over rich in a country where the harvest only occurs once in a couple of years. But though not wealthy, the farmer of the Upper Alps, lives like a lord in his own house, and the heaviest portion of agricultural labour devolves on his wife. It is no uncommon thing to see a wo man yoked to the plough along with an ass, while the husband holds the ploughshare. A farmer of the Upper Alps accounts it an act of politeness to lend his wife to a neighbour who is oppressed with labour; aud the neighbour in turn, lends his wife for a few days work, whenever the favour is requested. Among these mountains an abode may be procured at the rent of 10 francs per annum ; the proprietor, it is true, sel- "Notwithstanding the patriarchal dom lays out any money in building, manners of the Upper Alps, domestic for the habitations consist chiefly of quarrels are perhaps more frequent cavities dug in the hills and fitted up there than elsewhere; and husbands with rough planks of wood. Owing to are often punished for beating their the uncertainty of the harvest, the in- wives, and vice versa. In some comhabitants adopt the precaution of always munes, when a husband suffers himself making a sufficient quantity of bread to to be chastised by his wife, he is placed last for 15 or 18 months. Their on an ass with his face to the tail of the bread is a kind of hard biscuit; and it animal, and in this ludicrous position is asserted, that one pound contains as he rides about, while one of his neighmuch nutriment as four pounds of or- bours proclaims with a loud voice the dinary bread. They sop it in milk disgrace of the foolish husband. Somealong with potatoes, and it forms their times the woman, who has had the prechief article of food, at least during a sumption to beat her husband, is paradgreat portion of the year. There is a ed in a similar way; she is compelled part of the Upper Alps, called Lagrave, to drink frequently, and her mouth is where the cold is so severe during the wiped with the tail of the ass. This winter, that it is found impossible to custom is observed in many parts of dig the graves in the church-yards. France. Formerly, the fear inspired The inhabitants have an old method of by this public punishment was so great disposing of their dead during that sea- that the criminals have been known to son of the year. They hang them up petition the favour of the Sovereign to in their barns, or lay them on the roofs get it commuted. At Dijon both husof the houses, until the return of spring. band and wife were mounted on an ass, The singular customs of the natives of and the ceremony of punishment for all this mountainous region, might in some the offences of the above nature that instances afford a lesson to people more had been committed throughout the refined. They do not consider it ne- year, usually took place in the month of cessary to ratify their engagements by May. A decree of parliament was writing, or any other formality. A necessary to abolish the custom, which squeeze of the hand, or a lock of hair was held in high veneration by the peogiven as a pledge, renders the promise ple, and which, in former times, served sacred and inviolable. In the arron- as a check both on tyrannical husbands, dissement of Einbrun, when a man falls and wives who were too ready in the ill, and being without children, is una- use of their hands." ble to gather his harvest, the mayor and But these old customs are gradually |