BEING lately in France, and returning in a coach from Paris to Rouen, I lighted upon the society of a knowing gentleman, who related to me a choice story, which peradventure you may make use of in your way. him, because he knew he was Captain Coucy's servant; and finding him timorous, and faultering in his speech, he searched him and found the said box in his pocket, with the note which expressed what was therein: he dismissed the bearer, with menaces that he should come no more near his house. Monsieur Fayel going in, sent for his cook, and delivered him the powder, charging him to make a little well-relished dish of it, without losing a jot of it, for it was a very "Some hundred and odd years costly thing; and commanded him since, there was in France one Cap- to bring it in himself, after the last tain Coucy, a gallant gentleman of course at supper. The cook bringancient extraction, and keeper of ingin the dish accordingly, Monsieur Coucy Castle, which is yet standing Fayel commanded all to avoid the and in good repair. He fell in love room; and began a serious discourse with a young gentlewoman, and with his wife; however, since he had courted her for his wife: there was married her he observed she was alreciprocal love between them, but ways melancholy, and feared she was her parents understanding of it, by inclining to a consumption, thereway of prevention, they shuffled up fore he had provided her a very prea forced match 'twixt her and one cious cordial, which he was well asMonsieur Fayel, who was a great sured would cure her: thereupon he heir. Captain Coucy hereupon quit- made her eat up the whole dish; ted France in great discontent, and and afterwards much importuning went to the wars in Hungary against him to know what it was, he told her the Turk, where he received a mor- at last, she had eaten Coucy's heart, tal wound, not far from Buda. Being and so drew the box out of his pocket, carried to his lodging, he languished and shewed her the note and the some days; but a little before his bracelet. In a sudden exultation of death he spoke to an ancient servant joy, she, with a far-fetched sigh, of his, that he had many proofs of said, This is a precious cordial indeed: his fidelity and truth, but now he had and so licked the dish, saying, It is a great business to intrust him with, so precious that 'tis pity to put ever which he conjured him by all means any meat upon it. So she went to to do; which was, that after his death bed, and in the morning she was he should get his body to be opened, found stone dead. and then to take his heart out of his breast, and put in an earthen pot to be baked to powder; then to put the powder into a handsome box, with that bracelet of hair he had worn long about his left wrist, which was a lock of Mademoiselle Fayel's hair, and put it among the powder, together with a little note he had written with his own blood to her; and after he had given him the rites of burial, to make all the speed he could to France, and deliver the said box to Mademoiselle Fayel. The old servant did as his master had commanded him, and so went to France; and coming one day to Monsieur Fayel's house, he suddenly met him with one of his servants, and examined Westminster, May 3, 1635. "This gentleman told me that this sad story is painted in Coucy Castle, and remains fresh to this day. "In my opinion, which veils to yours, this is choice and rich stuff · for you to put upon your loom, and make a curious web of. "I thank you for the last regalo you gave me at your museum, and for the good company. I heard you censured lately at court, that you have lighted two-fold upon Sir Inigo, and that you write with a porcupine's quill dipt in too much gall. Excuse me that I am so free with you; it is because I am in no common way of friendship, Yours, J. H." An Account of the New Company community's rights to a particular set established in France, for carrying of persons-and a sacrifice of general on the Commerce of that Country to individual interest. But was this with Africa. the character of the ancient African N our last number we presented Company? or can such be the cha e tabli,hed up statistical account of the commerce of on a similar basis, acting only in the France with Africa, but our limits same places, and always directed by not permitting us to enter into parti- government? If by demon trative culars respecting the company lately facts the negative be given to the first established at Paris, we contented question, the second will require no ourselves with stating the suppression answer. The comme: cial society, of the Old African Company in 1791, known under the name of the Afri thinking that the importance of the can Company, is as ancient as the inpresent subject demanded something tercourse between France and the more at our hands than a bare men- Ottoman Empire; and from that tion of the Company's establishment. time to 1606, nine different treaties The motives which actuated the have been concluded between indiviFrench government in establishing duals, religious orders, emperors and the New African Company, have kings of France, and the divan and been fully illustrated by the report of dey of Algiers. The convention of M. Perrée, who was commissioned to 1696 is distinguished by its title, viz. carry to the Legislative Body the de- African Concessions,, but it is not less cree of the 10th Floreal, 9th year remarkable from its effects, namely, (1801); we cannot therefore convey territorial concession privilege with a more correct idea upon the subject respect to the coral fishery-engage‐ than by transcribing the aforesaid re- ment to deliver corn only to the Com port. The present decree," says pany--and warrants on the part of the M. Perrée, "confirms that of 1791, French nation: such was the basis of with regard to the ancient Company. this contract, which was followed by It establishes a New Company, with the treaties 1719, &c. all which were the same rights and prerogatives as ratified and renewed by the French the old, reserving to government the republic, and the regency of Algiers, right of interfering in the political and in 1793. If through the jealousy of commercial affairs of the said Com- another nation clouds have dimmed pany. These regulations will at first, the commercial horizon of France doubtless, appear contrary to the prin- and Algiers, a reciprocity of intereis ciples of the legislation and of commer- soon dissipated them: an armistice, cial freedom; but upon examination was concluded in the year (1800), of facts and particulars, it will be found and a new treaty announced or the that the conduct of government is government. To this long political praise-worthy, in as much as it has acquaintance may be added consider established commercial ties between ations relative to the reciprocal in the two countries, which are as ne- terests of France and Algiers. France, cessary to the welfare of the regency as a duty she owes to her commercial of Algiers as they are compatible interests, is bound in an especial manwith the dignity of the French repub- her to consult the safety of her Melic. In order to dissipate all those diterranean shipping, and to provide unpleasing ideas which the word pri- southern countries (where the culture vileged Company may conjure up in of the vine, is more attended to than the minds of the multitude, it may not that of corn) with necessaries, is be deemed improper to expatiate up- worthy of her attention. France is on the meaning of the word, accord- bound to acquire at Algiers, a marked ing to it's general acceptation. In preference over other nations, and to this point of view an exclusive privi- form at Marseilles a depot which lege is a grant of a certain branch of might serve her as a grangry, and her commerce or industry to a small num- Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Afriber of individuals, to the exclusion can neighbours, as a market. The and prejudice of all-a disposal of the regency of Algiers has expressed an UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VIII. 2Q opinion that it will find in a company Africa and America. Commerce has a more certain pledge for the fulfil its infancy and its decrepitude, and ment of promises, than in the person both one and the other stand in need of of an envoy or consul. This pledge, support; the government has lately this security on the part of a commier made the application of this maxim, cial company, has been the annual by extending every possible encou price, or terms, upon which the r ragement to the whale and cod ritorial concessions at Bona, Callah, fisheries, as well as to the working of and Colo, have been granted, and on mines of coal; and now again it these terms the company has had li- makes a similar application, in order berty to send French manufactures to revive the drooping African comand French grain to Algiers. The merce. By a new decree, therefore, last African Company annually put an African Company is once more in action, 50 vessels, whose aggregate established, which, as its members burthens were 12,000 tons, 800 possess the zeal and courage of the sailors, and four million franes. The former members, will, doubtless, continual departures and arrivals of render important services to the rethese vessels, the discharging and re- public, and counteract the pernicious exportation of African and colonial effects which unhappily resulted produce, enriched not only Marseilles, from the premature decree of 1791. but the whole country; gave employ. It now remains to mention the pro-. ment to thousands of persons, and viso in the Company's regulations, formed at Marseilles the first marine relative to its maintaining consuls. school, as it were, in France. Hence This clause is indispensible in an it will be seen, that the establishment establishment where Frenchmen are of a Company will confer a favour the agents of the stipulations: moreupon the regency of Algiers, which over, it is highly proper that the goalways considers itself secure, when connected with so respectable a body, The concessions then, granted to the French by the regency, were a territorial grant for a limited space of time, and upon certain conditions, conditions which depended not upon the government, but which sacrificed individual interest to national dignity, rendering France an object of envy to other nations. The Coral Fishery, comprised in these concessions, likewise extended the navigation and industry of France; the truth of this as sertion will appear evident from the number of ships employed in the fishery, and the circumstance of Marseilles, after the acquisition of the said fishery, having supplied most parts of Europe with wrought corala branch of commerce which before had been entirely engrossed by Leghorn, Such then were the political and commercial concerns of the African Company: here do not appear the attributes of an exclusive privilege of trading to the Coasts of Africa, and yet to the predecessors of this Company, or in other words, to the ancient privileged Companies must be ascribed the foundation of factories and establishments upon the coasts of vernment should take these means to secure the interests of the Company, and safety and protection to Frenchmen residing in a country where the will of an ignorant petty prince is the only law. Exclusive of this precaution, the Company will also be allow◄ ed by government a certain number of soldiers,according to circumstances. An impost will be imposed upon every vessel destined for the Coral Fishery, to the Company annually, in order to assist in the support of its establishment, and in the performance of the engagement entered into with the regency of Algiers; no person, surely, can grumble at contributing towards the disbursements of a Company of whose advantages he enjoys a portion. Thus the Coral Fishery is free to all the French traders, who, it is to be hoped, will no longer exclaim against what is improperly termed a privileged Company. The desire on the part of government to encourage industry, adds to the excellence of the present project, and the choice of able and experienced persons for conducting the affairs of the Company, will consummate that desire. In fine, government is de termined upon establishing a New African Company; first, on account of Spain, son of the renowned of the propinquity of the barbarian Charles V. tharries Elizabeth de Vacoasts to ours; secondly, by reason of lois, of the royal house of France. the reciprocity of our interests, and Don Carlos, eldest son of Philip, bad the necessity there is of the ancient seen Elizabeth before her upths, intercourse being renewed; and and conceived a violent passion for thirdly, because it is the wish of the her. The concealment of this love, Dey of Algiers that his confidence the jealousy of Philip, the intrigues should be placed in a Company simi- of the duke of Alva to ruin the son lar to that by which he never was de- in the estimation of the father, the ceived. Thus then, by a felicitous heroic friendship of the marquis of combination of circumstances, our Posa for Carlos, who had been his commerce with Africa is in the fairest school companion, and his death in way of regaining its former vigour." the defence of him, form the business Decree relative to the definitive sup- of the different scenes. pression of the Old and the establishment of the New African Com pany. 1st. The ancient African Company, suppressed by the decree of the 29th of July, 1791, is hereby definitively suppressed. 2dly. A new African Company is hereby established, to which shall appertain all the prerogatives of the ancient Company, excepting that of exclusively carrying on the Coral Fishery, which is open to all such French traders as shall pay to the Company a certain annual tribute upon every vessel they shall employ in the said fishery; the amount of the said tribute to be each year fixed by the directors of the New Africah Company. On the GERMAN LITERATURE, and the GENIUS of SCHILLER, SIR, THE insertion of my letter, p. 29. HE insertion of my letter, p. 29, boldens me to continue my remarks upon the writings of Schiller. I have already said that I consider the "Robbers" as his master-piece; and though I mean to consider in the present communication, his "Don Carlos," I would not be understood to imply that it stands second in the file of merit. Perhaps in this respect, my judgment may differ from that of most people, but I confess that the play of Don Carlos struck me as being upon the whole a tame and nerveless production. The characters are not so boldly delineated as in his other plays. The plot is founded upon an historical fact. Philip the Second, king In this play, however, we look in vain for that majestic genius which is so conspicuous in the "Robbers." The language very seldom rises to the same height, the ideas are not so wildly grand, nor are the characters possessed of that individuality which constitutes a very pre-eminent merit of the former play. The only per sonages that can be said to lay hold of our hearts with a strong and permanent interest, are Carles, and his friend the marquis von Posa. The latter, indeed, is a fine drawn character; and there are some scenes between him and Philip, in which the former is pleading for the rights of human nature, which are executed in Schiller's best manner. His noble and devoted friendship to Carlos, also calls forth all our admiration; and his fate is viewed with those emotions of sorrow, that best tell how far the author has succeeded in making him what he wished. But the other characters of the play are a true dramatic progeny. Philip is a gloomy and revengeful tyrant; Domingo a subtle and designing churchman; the duke of Ala a crafty and malignant courtiers and Elizabeth a soft and cleminate woman. They are, in fact, such characters as may be found in a thousand plays: they serve to fill up the chain of the action, and not otherwise distinguished, Having thus briefly noticed the plot, and the principal person of the drama, I shall how proceed to point out a few of those beauties which are to be found in it." According also to my promise, I shall attempt to convey an idea of them to the English reader, by such a translation as I am Und süss ist es, in einer schönen seele able to give. Verherrlicht uns zu fühlen, es zu wissen räumen! Wie gross und süss, in seines kindes tugend erntet, Zu sammeln, was ihm wuchern wird, zu ahnden, Mein vater, Carlos, conscious that his father bears no friendly will towards him, and aware that this dislike is continu. ally fostered by the machinations of the duke of Alva, and the monk Domingo, resolves to obtain an interview with Philip, and endeavour to rouse all the father in his bosom. When he is introduced to the king, he finds his enemy, the duke of Alva, with him; Carlos, in a strain of sharp irony, vents his displeasure, and at last he openly requires that the duke should quit the chamber while he speaks to his father. This Wie hoch sein dank einst flammen wird! is complied with, and Carlos imme- Von diesem erden paradiese schwiegen diately falls upon his knees before Sehr weislich ihre Mönche." the king, and thanks him for this mark of his royal goodness. He I have given the original at full then endeavours to awaken him to length, from a wish to gratify those tenderness; he boldly proclaims his who know it, and from the hope that own virtue, and calls upon his father some one among your numerous to dismiss that hatred towards him readers may be induced to give a betwhich he has so long manifested. ter version of it than I feel I am able to do. Philip is moved to tears, but finding himself thus ensnared in the toils of nature, he becomes indignant; Carlos vents his anger against the duke of Alva, and the monk Domingo, who have so long pursued him with rancour; the king exclaims “Hold, audacious! The men you scandalise Are the approved servants of my choice, And thou shalt honor them." "Never," replies Carlos. "What Alva can perform I can perform; I tan do more." He then demands what can be expected from a hireling; and adds, with tenderness, "Carlos would have loved you. It grieves me to reflect that you are solitary upon a throne." The king is struck with these words; he remains silent for a while, lost in contemplation, and then replies in a solemn manner, "I AM alone." The reply of Carlos to this I have always considered as a most exquisite effort of human genius. He goes towards the king with warmth and enthusiasm: he exclaims, "Sie sind's gewesen. Hassen sie mich nicht mehr, CARLOS. Cease but to hate me, and I will love That sorrows, which oppress our sinking Bid other bosoms tremble with their That woes of ours bid tears of anguish The dream of life again to dream! Immortal, imperishable to exist, to be From the mere English reader I Ich will sie kindlich, will sie feurig lieben en zückend |