The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 578, December 1, 1832

John Gilpin.—Henderson, the actor, in his public readings, first brought into notice the humorous tale of John Gilpin, which he recited with such spirit and comic effect that it drew public attention to the poems of Cowper in general, which, excellent as they are, particularly The Task, were but little known at the time, though they are now justly in universal estimation.

Bibb the Engraver.—Taylor relates: How Bibb supported himself, having relinquished engraving, it would be difficult to conceive, if he had not levied taxes upon all whom he knew, insomuch that, besides his title of Count, he acquired that of "Half-crown Bibb," by which appellation he was generally distinguished; and according to a rough, and, perhaps, fanciful estimate, he had borrowed at least 2,000l. in half-crowns. I remember to have met him on the day when the death of Dr. Johnson was announced in the newspapers, and, expressing my regret at the loss of so great a man, Bibb interrupted me, and spoke of him as a man of no genius, whose mind contained nothing but the lumber of learning. I was modestly beginning a panegyric upon the doctor, when he again interrupted me with, "Oh! never mind, that old blockhead. Have you such a thing as ninepence about you?" Luckily for him I had a little more.

Worst Leg—Theophilus Cibber was by no means wanting in abilities or humour. He had ill-formed legs; and having projected one of them in company, which was noticed with a laugh, he offered to lay a wager that there was a worse in company; and it being accepted, he put forward his other leg, which was indeed more ill-shaped than the other.

A Painter's Gratitude.—Zoffani, the celebrated painter, who was born at Frankfort, 1735, came to England, as a painter of small portraits, when he was about the age of thirty years. He had the honour to be employed by his Majesty, and painted portraits of the royal family; and he was engaged by the Queen, to paint for her a view of the Tribune of the Gallery of Florence. He was somewhat of a humorist; and it is said of him, that whilst he was engaged painting in the Florentine Gallery, the Emperor of Germany visited the Grand Duke; and coining up to Zoffani, in the Gallery, was much pleased with his performance, and asked him his name; and on hearing it, inquired what countryman he was, when he answered, "An Englishman."—"Why," said the Emperor, "your name is German!"—"True," returned the painter. "I was born in Germany, that was accidental; I call that my country where I have been protected!" He was a member of the Royal Academy, and died in 1808.

P.T.W.

Watching for the Soul.—Margaret of Valois, Queen of Navarre, being present at the death-bed of one of her maids of honour, continued to fix her eyes on the dying person with uncommon eagerness and perseverance till she breathed her last. The ladies of the Court expressed their astonishment at this conduct, and requested to know what satisfaction her majesty could derive from so close an inspection of the agonies of death. Her answer marked a most daring and inquisitive mind. She said that having often heard the most learned doctors and ecclesiastics assert, that on the extinction of the body the immortal part was set at liberty and unloosed, she could not restrain her anxious curiosity to observe if such separation were visible or discernible; that none had she been able in any degree to discover. She was suspected of Hugonotism, and was so devout as to compose hymns.

Harvest-home.—This custom a Correspondent believes to be exclusively English; and its rapid disuse in many parts of England cannot be but a source of regret to those who study the moral enjoyment of the labouring classes of society. The social meal is now recompensed by a trifling sum of money, which is either the resource of drunkenness and debauchery, or at best is but comparatively ill-spent.

All things by Comparison.—Aristippus being reprehended of luxury by one that was not rich, for that he gave six crowns for a small fish, answered, "Why, what would you have, given?" The other said, "Some twelve pence." Aristippus said again, "And six crowns is no more with me."

P.T.W.

Epitaphs.—At Castle Camps, in Cambridgeshire, is the following quaint epitaph on a former rector—

Mors mortis morti mortem nisi morte dedisset,Aeternae Vitae Janua clausa foret.

The translation is obviously, "unless the Death of Death (Christ) had given death to Death by his own death, the gate of eternal life had been closed." A poetic specimen of declension!

At Babraham, in Cambridgeshire, is this on Orazio Palovicini, who was the last deputed to this country to collect the Peter-pence; but instead of returning to Rome, he divided the spoil with the Queen, and bought the estate at Babraham.—

Here lies Orazio Pulovicin,Who robb'd the Pope to pay the Queen.He was a thief:—A thief? thou liest!For why?—He robb'd but antichrist.Him Death with besom swept from Babraham,Unto the bosom of old Abraham;Then came Hercules, with his club,And knocked him down to Beelzebub.INDAGATOR.

THE ANNUALS FOR 1833

With our next Number, a SUPPLEMENT,CONTAINING THESpirit of the Annuals for 1833:With a fine Engraving, &c

1

A cleverly conducted work containing more popular information on Medicine, Surgery, and what are termed the collateral sciences, than we are accustomed to find in a "professional" journal.

2

Rammazini.

3

Preface de Narcisse Oeuvres, Diverses, t. l. v. 172.

4

Pathol. lib. 3. cap. 2. Oper. Omm. p. 406.

5

See the Engraving, vol. xviii. p. 337 of The Mirror.

6

See also pages 113 and 329 of the present volume.

7

Hist. Scot. By Sir W. Scott, Bt., vol. i, p. 197.

8

Ibid. p. 199.

9

Faedera, tom. v. p. 542.

10

Messrs Britton and Brayley—Beauties of England and Wales, vol. v. p. 199.

11

The Santa Casa.