very pirates complained of. Less cash expended and the ship recovered, of which they very in this way than would be asked for a cottage nearly got possession. ornée near town, would give us the lawful so- At Pulo Condor one of our own unfortunate vereignty of immense tracks of land and islands traders was taken, the whole crew, captain, of the most fertile description. The inevitable mates, and all killed. But the immediate cause consequences would (must) be of incalculable of these contests were of so mixed a character, benefit. I wish the Government would send me that, obscured by the lapse of so many years, it out in a fine frigate simply as acquisitive ambas- is now impossible to trace them. The most fresador extraordinary and purchasing commis- quent motive was revenge; sometimes from insioner-empowered to all rejahs, pretty chiefs, or juries received elsewhere, or on some former the biggest tigers or crocodiles I might find at visit, or from some other vessel. each river's mouth, I could pounce on, - where I As to the sheer piracy, I know we did make would forth with plant the Union Jack, and chris- mistakes, (when the innocent suffered for the ten the spot in the name of my liege lord William guilty,) so shall we, I think, go on making misIV.: so would I engage in a twelvemonth to takes. That we do not know a piratical from a put down these alleged Malay piracies—more by peaceable prow; indeed, it is impossible to disgentle and fair means, by coming to a proper tinguish-the peaceable ones being often conunderstanding, (which I fear has never yet been verted into the most desperate and piratical (actried,) than by exterminating them; for they are cording to our notions) by being often detained the most influential and respectable inhabitants on their voyage-fired at to make them heave to, of these same shores. The system, as it goes without sufficient explanation-with other vexon, is one of revenge for real or supposed inju-ations-each and all left to clear themselves up ries committed on their prows. I question the best way they could, neither party underwhether any means short of extermination can standing the other. The men-of-war, perhaps, be effected by force. The extra frigate (the hull down in the distance, and the boats, if in a 5000 men will produce) sent across the Bay of calm, pulling after, and firing at them for dear Bengal (more like a sloop!) for this purpose will life: very good fun for “ Jack,” when he had not do just nothing at all, if they act as of old, with too much of it. But how often did this farce out power to treat on shore, and without any turn out a melancholy tragedy! To make them specific or defined order; and worst of all, with- beave to, our old mode of firing was adopted, out, very possibly, any person on board know- of which they knew nothing. They would not ing a word of the Malay language.

heave-to-presently we got irritated. This might To this simple fact may be traced so many fa- be on occasions when we only wanted to overtally bloody affrays-nor is it, as might be sup- haul them, without having any certain clue to posed, much connected with certain treacherous their being pirates, or that they were not pursuseizures and massacres committed on board ing their lawful little coasting trade—for whether merchant-ships while at anchor on their shores or not, all these Malay boats of from 30 to 50 for the purpose of trade in gold and spices. They, tons, with bamboo decks, were always full of to be sure, have been lamentable and detestable men armed to the teeth with spears and crecses. enough in all conscience; and have prejudiced By-and-by the officers and men too get irus much against these people in general, however ritated—they won't heave-to-blank-cartridge innocent or remote from such scenes of havock. turns insensibly (perhaps without any order)

The pirate prows, as they are called, seldom into ball-cartridge-at last a Malay is wounded or ever attacked merchant vessels in my day; nobody is wrong all this time; but the natives are I never heard of an instance when under weigh. irreconcileable, and breathe nothing but hatred What was most to be guarded against were par- and revenge. They hold their way, and if unties of the natives coming off in their canoes luckily they are overtaken by the boats, a scene while most of the few hands of the crew were of slaughter ensues. They are either driven on shore with the Captain: then, on pretence of overboard, and exterminated, or the boats' a friendly visit, or to barter their fruit, fowls, &c. crews are cut to pieces. As to coming to a crowding the decks, and suddenly attacking the parley or any explanation, that I have never half-dozen defenceless sailors scattered about, known; neither the Lieutenant, nor the Mid, unconscious and careless as Jack generally is. nor one of the men know anything of their lanI believe every one of those dreadful instances guage; but even if they did, it is now too late. of massacre may be traced to the negligence of They will on no pretence be boarded, and the the mate ieft in charge, or to the careless confi- officer having begun, is, as a point of honour, dence of the Captain, in some way or other. obliged to go on; though very likely he has not

The Americans, who have a great many of been told to do more than “overhaul them," or their merchantmen picked up cargoes at Su-“bring them alongside,” neither of which will matra, Bali, Borneo, &c., were occasionally they submit to. This was the state of things at obliged to fight for their lives on their own decks one time. I fear it has gone on till such a load -sometimes from previous misunderstandings of revenge has been generated, that a confirmed not settled on shore; often, I dare say, from piracy may indeed be established; but it is very treachery and the hope of plunder. The west certain it is a species of piracy wholly different coast of Sumatra, at the small ports, had, and from the ordinary piracy we know of in Europe has still, a very bad name in this way. At Pe- and the West Indies; knowing this, I cannot dang great slaughter occurred on one occa- help thinking that it is to be put down only by sion before the natives were driven overboard negotiation and friendly explanations amidst the

natives of these shores, and by establishing some told plainly enough of what was going on. The known flag, and some known pass more intelli- men, arming themselves as they could, got up ligible to us than those given by their own so- the hatchways as fast and as well as they could vereigns. Weindeed know the King of Quida's, -(she was a low flush fore-and-aft corvette) and one or two of the Rajahs', at Bencoolen, each having to lay about him with his cutlass, Acheen, &c., but even these were only known to tomahawk, pike, or whatever he could snatch very few Captains on the station, and were up, and fight for his life, three or four stabbing wholly useless exactly at the moment when at him at once: so, too, with the Captain and of some signal was most indispensable to prevent ficers, who had to fight their way up the afterfatal misunderstandings. The Lieutenant or the cabin ladder. The Captain himself, a powerful Midshipman in charge of the boat might as well man, with a trusty, sharp, and heavy sword, have been asked to decipher a charred Greek cleared his way and cut down all before him, MS. as it is when first unrolled from the clear with the additional good luck of parrying or escontrivance in the Studio at Naples,—that is, al-caping most of the cuts and thrusts aimed at lowing the chief of a prow had had any notion him, surrounded by the Malays, each more furiof what he wanted.

ous and blood-thirsty than the other. The poor I knew something of these doings at one time; First Lieutenant, on attempting to follow, was sometimes we came across clusters of these almost literally cut in two by a blow from (that trading prows (Anglice, pirates), letting them go deadly weapon) a creese, and fell on the combabout their business very quietly,-at others, ings or down the ladder; other officers were they were chased and fired at from the boats. either killed at this moment or badly wounded, It so happened that we did not come up with as well as sixteen or eighteen of the men killed. them; but I certainly never could understand The Captain, fighting his way forward till joined on what system or on what authority we acted, by his own men and an officer or two, rallied or on what rule of right and justice. Such was back; and after some minutes of the most desthe immense latitude of discretion in the use of perate hand-to-hand fighting it is well possible to our force !-such the vague meaning left to the conceive, worse than can be conceived by any discrimination of the various Commanders ! who do not know that these people never think

When there is great ignorance and uncer- of quarter, or cease to strike while they have tainty attached to a question, it is very difficult life in them, though down and possibly wounded to disentangle the right and wrong of a great to the death over and over ;-after some minutes' many melancholy results, to my own knowledge. such work as this, they succeeded in either killMost naval men have heard or read of the des- ing or driving overboard all opposed to them. perate affair on board the Samarang, sloop-of-The dead, as may be imagined, lay in heapswar, in which Captain Bell, by his cool bravery, how many they killed I know not; numbers were saved his ship, at a moment when they had fear- drowned in trying to reach their own boats; ful odds of those infuriated Malays against them. still numbers got back, and cutting the hawsers

, What led to the overhauling and bringing two they got off. Himself badly wounded, his officers or three large prows full of men alongside I and most of his men, besides those killed outright never distinctly understood-probably some-ofcourse the Captain was glad to get rid ofthem. suspicion, or proof, of their being pirates. This was the only instance of anything of the

At any rate they were detained-some of sort happening on a man-of-war's decks; but them, I believe, were brought on board as mo- we lost officers and men more than once on mentary prisoners. In the mean time the prows board our boats. For instance, in attempting to were veered astern or on the quarters, while the board one of several prows chased near Java, ship's company were piped to dinner. In the some time after, Lieutenant Pede, and two or midst of all this there could have been no very three fine young men (Mids), were killed, togedeclared or open hostility-nothing of the ther with most of their boat's crew-and I benature in which ordinary pirates are treated lieve they were obliged to give them up at last when taken, but just, as I have endeavoured to -numbers killed and wounded on both sides: show,--with these people the Captains knew not but it was impossible to board them with any well what to do or how to consider them, even tolerable chance of success-as fast as our peowhen they did detain them; hence the numbers ple got on board they were speared up through on the quarter-deck were but slightly guarded the half-open bamboo deck. At another time, or looked after. They were at anchor I believe by dint of desperate fighting, one of these boats (I am telling all this in a loose and rambling way, was at length cleared-most of those that surthose who would know exact particulars can vived jumping overboard and swimming to easily refer to the despatches of the time), the other boats. Still it was known that one or two men all at dinner, except a few about by acci- of these desperadoes were alive below, hid away dent; the Quarter-master, Lieutenant, and Mate in some of the little cribs or cabins under the of the Watch,—the Captain and Officers gene- deck. The boat was towed alongside, and norally below,-when the prows on each quarter, body sent into her, Jest they should be speared from some signal from their men on board, hauled from below, from this devilish invisible agency. up close, and their crews rushed armed on board. How to root this fellow or two out nobody knew

Those in their immediate way, aft, were stab-1-offering quarter, or kindness of any sort, was bed and speared indiscriminately. There was hopeless: the officers did not like to send any no time to warn anybody or even make it known man to almost certain death-and more than one below; but the noise of the rush and stir on deck at a time could hardly creep through the laby.

( 92 2ning | s they could. as well as the e-and-at are im with his ver he coming

pe or fours

the Captain) * Way up i himself

, a!

and heam

In all

of party?

1

7 thrusts a Vs, each other. I ing to find a blow the fell on her office T badly of the ne Ürwant er or to of the ai

a

AN OLD LADY OF THE LAST CENTURY.
rinth to get at him; they did not wish to destroy our government and protection. They were in
the vessel—and, above all

, they particularly despair at our giving them up. They have ever
wished to save the man—it turned out there was been naturally partial to us, from our fair deal-
only one—the last man! He would not be saved.ings with them at all the stations, where we oc-
I believe nothing was left untried by fair means casionally touch for wood, water, vegetables,
-even to getting some one of the people who fruit, &c. It is only as connected with their
understood a little Malay to try and speak to boats along their shores that we seemed doomed
him—but he gave no answer; at last this sort of to a constant enmity and warfare—for theirs is
suspense grew intolerable-a defiance to the not a case of solitary piracy or numerous piracies
whole frigate! It could be borne no longer. Se- -unconnected with their towns and villages;
veral men volunteered to turn him out, and three they are the same people, nor have I ever heard
or four jumped on board--one went below to the cases clearly made out where we could po-
look after him, taking every precaution it was sitively say which was a pirate, which a mere
possible—the others walked and watched above. coasting trader! But I do believe, that though
Í should here observe, what I forgot to mention some traders have been made pirates of, from
in its proper place, that this wretched Malay had motives of revenge, and some have suffered justly
already desperately wounded one of our men, enough for their enormities-yet, that many la-
who, as it was supposed none remained alive or mentable mistakes have occurred-and that this
below, had gone under the deck for some pur- wretched state of things requires more inquiry,
pose or other rather unguardedly, and had been and a different sort of remedy, than the loose
struck at by him. This led to his detection. orders given to the present or any additional
The men, of course, were well armed; the great floating force sent to protect trade. We must
difficulty, and indeed danger, was their not conciliate the natives on shore; induce an act of
knowing how or where to use them; those oblivion for the past, if possible, from their Ra-
above, every moment expecting a spear-stab jahs; and clear signs, and signals, and under-
from below—and the one who went down to standings, which any Lieutenant or Midshipman
poke him out in a kind of darkness visible, had may safely act on when in boats, for the future.
an uncertain and awkward game to play. The I have not stopped to speak of the attack on
whereabout of the ambush of this two-legged ti- the Alceste, so fresh in our memories,—which,
ger, however, being tolerably ascertained, he however, I think only tends to establish the view
moved towards him—hailed every moment by I have ventured to take of these reputed pirates.
the men above with “I say Bill, do you see him?
-mind your eye-look more forward-beawake,
_” At this moment he was made out crouch-

From Blackwood's Magazine.
ing in a corner of the hold, or partition of bam-
boos or mats, as these vessels were generally AN OLD LADY OF THE LAST CENTURY.
arranged under their semi-aërial decks. As Bill
advanced, the Malay struck at him with his 'Tis an often-quoted adage of the celebrated
creese, and wounded him in the arm only on the Jewish “ lover, king, and sage,” that “there is
first blow; they grasped each other; at this in- nothing new under the sun.” I think that, in the
stant the other men got down below to his as- present day, one might rather say “there is no
sistance-but not in time to save the first poor thing old.” Weare conjugating the verb change,
fellow's life, whose blunt cutlass was no match in all its moods and tenses. Coleridge says
at close quarters for the short, sharp knife of the “ For what is grey with age becomes religion.”
native-he was mortally wounded, before they we are atheists to the past, and act upon Words-
could fire at his antagonist, who was hit in two worths principle,-
places-still he got up, and rushed on his new
assailants, who were in turn both wounded, and

“Of old things, all are over-old ; that severely, before they finally succeeded in

Of good things none are good enough: despatching him. Thus ended this episode to

We'll help to show that we can frame the morning's tragedy. I think the first two sol

A world of other stuff.” diers died almost immediately of their wounds Trees, streets are passing away as rapidly as from this last of the Malays-the other two were their inhabitants, and to-day has nothing in comlong in their hammocks before they recovered of mon with yesterday. Marmontel had “ un grand their wounds. Such were the general features regret pour la frérie,” and I have un grand reof this new species of warfare; for I think I may gret for the old school. safely say, nothing but disaster; disappointment, In endeavouring to recall a few memorials of and a constant succession of further irritation, Mrs. Lawrence Burgoyne, I do it on the same misunderstanding, and mischief, accrued to us principle that scientific men collect the bones of to the Malay crews, almost extermination. a mammoth-the whole exists no longer; but If then, indeed, piracy of any sort is still going there are sufficient remains to show

that it did on in these seas, and by these people-what have exist. The few survivors of the old school, we been about these last five-and-twenty years of such as are kept alive by having life annuities apparent harmony with the natives? I would -a plan which has some secret charm for putask this question of well-informed men--officers ting off death-even these few are fast disapare constantly coming home from this station. pearing. Mrs. Burgoyne has been dead these It is certain the Malays hate the Dutch univer- two years; she had borne a great deal. Pow. sally, and would most willingly have con ler der and hoops had been left off, guineas had

onceira ople nega while the ossib'st TOT ed in a oposed lare

or

eir

dei killas

nythin * dat than a atteet Pne

; and

kila

changed into sovereigns, and, like many other was, indeed, the very beau-ideal of black satin things, lost by the change; but the last shock to and blonde. I think it cost her the bitterest pang her nerves was given by her granddaughter. (of all to part with her train, it was like going ă Miss Ellen, an urchin of some six years old, grade lower in society. Still, to use her own came to see her grandmother during the Christ- remark, “ It is better to be anything rather than mas holidays. Mrs. Burgoyne 'having heard conspicuous: never meet the fashion, but always that the child was a quiet one-though she had follow it.” She had been a beauty and an heirsome misgivings about the matter-prepared a ess, and had gone through life on the sunny book for her entertainment; it was a volume of side. Tombstones had been her only monitors; Mother Goose's Fairy Tales. Plum cake and but the deep sorrow of death brings with it deep sweet wine were duly administered in the first sympathy. Opposite to her were hung the porinstance, and the cat recommended as a play-traits of her husband and her only daughter, mate in the second: the cat, however, being de- whom she had lost very young; but for such clined, the book was produced. The young humanizing distress, her nature might have lady opened the pages-turned them over with been hardened in its glittering course of worldly a solemn air of contempt--and then, throwing prosperity—but with her, the well of tears had the work aside, begged that "she might have opened too deeply ever to dry again. On a litsomething to read that would improve her tle ebony table at her elbow were placed her bible mind." Her grandmother never got over the and prayer-book, in which she read the psalms shock-but took to her bed, ejaculating “What and lessons every morning; a friend fancying it will this world come to! Improving her mind was bad for her eyes, somewhat foolishly remonat six !-why, at sixteen I did not know whether strated, and asked if she had always done so? I had a mind or not!"

“My dear,” said the old lady, “youth forgets Mrs. Burgoyne passed the last twenty years what age never does—its Maker." of her life in a large, solemn-looking house at Mrs. Burgoyne was cheerful, and fond of soKensington; it is now a mad-house. How cu- ciety; in the morning she had a levée of visitriously do these changes in dwelling places, sers, and twice a week at least, a little circle once cheerful and familiar, bring the mutability gathered round her of an evening. Then she of our existing home! It would be an eventful was seen to advantage. Some one says of chronicle, the history of even a few of the old-fa- cleanliness, that is next to godliness—the same shioned houses in the vicinity of London. You as- might be said of politeness. Mrs. Burgoyne's cended a flight of steps, with a balustrade and two good breeding was the most perfect thing in the indescribable birds on either side, and a large world—I cannot even imagine her saying or do hall, which, strange to say, was more cheerful in ing a rude thing; I do not believe that she ever winter than in summer. In summer the narrow even thought one. Her manner was as polished windows, the black wood with which it was and as minutely finished as the carving on an ivory panelled, seemed heavy and dull; but in winter card case: a little stately it might be, and her the huge fire gave its own gladness, and had be- curtsey belonged to the days of hoops and brosides the association with old English hospitality cades—her curtsey was the only old fashion she which a blazing grate always brings. You could not give up-still it put you at your ease; passed next through two long drawing-rooms, she knew well how to encourage, and she had whose white wainscoting was almost covered too much good taste, I might add good feeling, with family portraits. There cannot be much ever to patronize. There was never a more exsaid for the taste of Queen Anne's time down-quisite listener; with what graceful patience wards-bagged, wigged, and hooped ; there was would she endure the most wearisome storiesnot a picture of which the African's question with what quickness catch the least attempt at might not have been asked, Pray tell me, wit, often giving the said attempt some nice turn, white woman, if this is all you ?" The floors of which the originator was quite guiltless—not were dry-rubbed, and the mahogany tables that she was the least of a bel esprit. She spoke shone as if in recollection of former festivities, with admiring deference of Mrs. Montagu and when whole nights floated away like the Mrs. Carter's coteries, but she had never belong.

ed to them; she had just the most delicate dread “ Hydaspes, dark with billowy wine.”

in the world of being called clever. Indeed it The chairs were high-backed and the seats co- is a doubtful fact whether clever people are erer vered with needle-work: there was also a buffet, very agreeable; they are too much absorbed by through whose glass doors appeared some sin-one particular pursuit, to bound lightly enough gularly small tea-cups, and some still more sin- over those generalities which are the steppinggularly small tea-pots—why, it would take a stones of conversation ; they feel as if they dozen to fill one of our modern breakfast cups, ought to say something worth remembering. The third was Mrs. Burgoyne's own room— Now carelessness in the talker is what most puts and here comfort had made some encroachment the listener at ease with himself. In some cases on precedent; indeed it was needed by her bo- it seems a duty to recollect, and we all know dily weakness. The room was carpeted-books what disagreeable things duties are. and various trifles were on the table, and in an Mrs. Burgoyne, on the contrary, was simple arm chair was seated the old lady herself; her and naïve to the age of eighty. Her talents had tall figure was still unbent, and the aristocratic never been overlaid ; indeed she used to enjoy hand was still white: she had no peculiarity of quoting a speech which the Dutchess d'Abran costume, unless it was extreme propriety-sheftes puts into the mouth of her mother, the pret

SKETCH IN THE OLD BAILEY.THE SONGS OF SCOTLAND.

tiest and most fascinating femme à la mode that Thou 'rt gone ; but yonder greedy gate
ever took her degrees in la haute science French Again shall lend thee to thy fate.
coquetterie. Mde. de Permon says, “ Je n'ai ja- Amid thy co-mate's ruffian din
mais lue d'ouvrage plus grave que Télémaque, Once more to shiver and to sin;
et je ne suis pas trop ennuyeuse moi !" Our kind Through London's midnight streets again
hostess rarely stirred from her arm-chair; but To plash in winter's killing rain;
that served as an excuse to draw near to herself Stilling that dread sepulchral cough,
any one who needed encouragement: none but That soon or late must cut thee off";
those who have keen feelings of their own can Must give thee, huddled to thy shell
enter into those of others, and this susceptibility From some foul garret's fetid cell,
in her was cultivated by that constant attention A home within the grave-yard's girth
which is the most difficult lesson of good breed- At last, thou friendless on the earth!
ing. Mrs. Burgoyne was proud-but her very
pride showed itself in respect-she only claimed No Stoic Iof crime and care
what she herself was ready to yield: her theory I've had my birthright's ample share.
was comprised in her favourite anecdote of the Yet, sooner than possess his heart
late Lord Besborough. While getting into his Who with the fiend's consummate art
carriage one day, a poor woman asked charity; First lured thee from thy father's co-
he gave her a shilling, but it dropped into the Perchance, in some green holy spot
mud: he instantly stooped down, picked it up, And led and left thee, till despair
and wiped it with his hankerchief before he put Produced thee bound a felon there;
it into her hand.

Sooner—though bribed by jewell'd power
The little circle that used to gather round her Than risk his death-bed's damning hour,
is now dispersed—the loss of Mrs. Lawrence I'd wring my bread in my misery's dearth
Burgoyne has been felt by many ; sympathies Through life without a friend on eartb.
and affections lingered with her to the last. I
know no one remaining the least like her. The
vault of her Norman ancestors has closed over

From the Monthly Repository. the kindest friend and the most thorough-bred gentlewoman.

L. E. L.

THE SONGS OF SCOTLAND.

BY ROBERT NICOLL.

From the Literary Gzelle.

The songs that lulled me on the breast
SKETCH IN THE OLD BAILEY.

To sleep away the noon

Sing on! sing on! I love them best !"
Thursday Night, April 7, 1836.

Scotland, of all countries, ought to be proud
Court.-Girl

, have you any witnesses to call in your de- of her popular song-of those emanations of the
fence ?

poetical spirit, which addressing themselves not Prisoner.—No, my Lord, I haven't a friend upon the to conventional or passing feelings, but to the carth.

fundamental and everlasting emotions of the hu

man soul, thrill it by their woe or cheer it by MEET dirge for such a thing as thou,

their mirth, cover the cheek with tears or brightWith wasted frame and drooping brow!

en the brow with smiles. All nations have their On whom, this instant, every eye

popular music and poetry; words and sounds, Rains scorn's condensed artillery.

which by some strange and hidden sympathies The clown's coarse laugh, the ribald's leer, of the immaterial part of man, fill his heart with The juror's state-affecting sneer;

gladness by their joy, or plunge him into grief by Th’official's shrug, the counsel's smile

the power of their plaintive melancholy. But (Nibbling his feathered pen the while);

though all nations possess this popular vehicle of The judge's sly, but solemn pun

expressing the sentiments of the universal mind, Have all not galled thee, guilty one ?

no man who is acquainted with the national Thou common mark for shafted mirth,

the peculiarly national-music and poetry of ScotThou wretch, without a friend on earth!

land, will feel induced to deny, that they stand

pre-eminent above those of other countries for * What's writ is writ;" thou 'st heard thy doom : simple, moving pathos, exquisite and appropriate Depart and give fresh felons room.

imagery, plaintive melancholy, and under other Hence! thy allotted time to dwell

circumstances and the dominion of other feel With those who made their bed in hell;

ings, for racy and natural humour. Fletcher e Beneath thy fierce task-master grim

Saltown, is reported to have said, “Give me th To toil with trembling weary limb;

making of a nation's songs, and I will let wh The long laborious day to curse,

pleases make its laws." The patriot spoke Yet dread night's sleepless fever worso;

the fulness of his knowledge of the land f To chafe and fret, till thoa attain

which he lived and died: for assuredly in Thy haunts of gin and guilt again.

other country on the face of the earth, not ev Leper! from erery human heart

in Switzerland, is song so efficient an ally t Cart out, without a friond on earth!

cause as in our own-in no other does it scen VOL. XXIX, JUI.Y, 1936.-18