The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 388, September 5, 1829Various
History
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 388, September 5, 1829
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
Our Engraving is an interesting view of the church nearly a century since,
when a range of shops (since removed) extended beneath the whole of this
side of the structure; and the respective signs must have been unholy
appendages to what appeared like part and parcel of a house of prayer. The
clock is accurately represented, the bracket being a carved figure of Time
with expanded wings, as mention by Smith. The clockmaker proposed to the
parish "to do one thing, which London shall not show the like," and we hope
our Engraving may be the means of rescuing his eccentric ingenuity from
oblivion.
* * * * *
A DESULTORY CHAPTER ON LOCALITIES.
(_For the Mirror._)
Rotterdam and Erasmus.--Holyrood and Mary Queen of
Scots.--Scotland.--Switzerland and Rousseau.--Pope's
Grotto.--Chiswick, &c.
There is perhaps no sentiment more generally felt, or more delightful, than
that indescribable interest with which we are led to contemplate places and
scenes, immortalized in historical renown, or hallowed by genius.
The propensity for moving from place to place, so observable in mankind,
derives, no doubt, its chief zest from the anxiety we feel to visit
countries of which in the course of our historical researches, we have
heard and read so much to awaken our interest, and excite our admiration.
Without the early reverence which we as boys imbibe for the departed
splendour of Greece and Rome, we should not as men be found wandering among
the ruins of the Pyræus, or the deserted streets of Pompeii. We find it
impossible to behold unmoved the sad, the astonishing changes which time,
the arch-destroyer has effected with his giant arm. Our exuberant fancies
carry us back to those remote periods when all was glory and magnificence,
where now ruin and desolation have established their melancholy empire.
Abandoning ourselves to the potent influence of classical contemplations of
the past, we revel in the full indulgence of antiquarian enthusiasm.
Imagination, however, needs not in general so wide a field for the exercise
of her magic powers. We desire perhaps more of pleasurable excitement from
the recollections attached to spots identified in our minds with events of
individual or ideal interest, than from the loftier train of thoughts
produced by a pilgrimage to countries which have become famous in ancient
or modern story. Thus we experience more delight in visiting places,
remarkable as having once been the resort or habitations of distinguished
men, than in viewing the ruins of an ancient citadel, or the site of a
celebrated battle. The events achieved on the latter may indeed, in their
time, have turned the scale of empires; but the association of ideas in the
former instances, speak a thousand times more feeling to our individual
sympathies. I remember when passing a couple of days in the opulent city of
Rotterdam, that after walking all the morning along its crowded streets,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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