ENJOYMENTS AND OBSTACLES;

OR HOW TO MAKE CHEAP PLEASURES COST DEAR
TO ALL PARTIES.

reached the river. Here two objects caught my
Proceeding along by the side of the wall, I
attention; the first was a crowd of little naked
boys, some in the water, some running about on
the banks, some dressing; and the second was a
printed board, on whichNotice was given, that
all persons found bathing in that part of the
river," and so forth, should be "punished with
the utmost rigour of the law." The boys did not
appear to see me, and really they were in such
evident enjoyment of perfect happiness that I
wished them not to see me, for fear they should
take me for the author of that awful proclamation,
and be put to flight in consequence. Therefore
contrary direction.
I evaded their notice, and pursued the river in a

estates joined each other; that they were both of them considered proud and oppressive masters; were rigid conservators of every exclusive right, and immoderately severe to all offenders.

much poaching in all the rest of the country as "Nevertheless, now, I think there's not so there is three miles round my house," said my host.

"Nor so much sheep-stealing," said a little fat corner. man, who sat smoking his pipe in an opposite

"Nor so much trout caught without a licence," exclaimed another person.

added a farmer.
"Nor so many corn-fields trampled down,"

"Nor so much mischief done altogether," summed up my host.

The same night I was roused out of my sleep by morning what had been the cause of the disturba noise in the house, and upon inqniring in the ance, learnt that some travellers had called to give information that murder had been committed in the neighbourhood, and it was subsequently found that a desperate affray had taken place between a party of poachers and two gamekeepers, in which a man had been killed on both sides, and a third lay so grievously wounded that his life was despaired of.

separated from me by a stone wall mounted with broken glass. As I stood looking up in disappointment at this mortifying obstruction, I caught the voices of two boys at the other side, talking to one another in a low tone, and from the few Travelling on horseback in a remote part of the words I could overhear, I found they were secretly island, I came one day upon a scene of more than discussing and arranging the best means of capordinary beauty. A gentle slope in the road gradu-turing something-but whether birds-nests or ally unfolded to view a tract of country, of no vast apples, I could not ascertain. extent indeed, but of a richness and luxuriance not to be surpassed. Spacious meadows divided by hedges full of flowers and song, long fresh grass giving pasture to fat cattle, venerable trees, like aged fathers, spreading forth their charitable arms, and a fine broad river holding its royal course through the midst of all, formed a tout ensemble nowhere to be met with but in " merry England." Nor was the next object that presented itself less pleasant nor less English. Many of our prospects in this life are observed to begin well, yet "end," they say, "in smoke;" but there is one prospect which begins in smoke, and is nevertheless cheering and delightful from the beginning to the end. This is the approach to a country village. First the smoke, then half a cottage seen through trees, then voices, then a Having proceeded the distance of about half a cart, then a red sign across a road, severally con- mile, I came in sight of an angler, who was seated firms the joyful assurance which imparts new in full employ, with all the nicknackery of his spirit to man and horse, as they shorten the dis- amusement about him, and so absorbed in what tance that separates them from their resting he was doing, that I came close behind him with- travelled without stopping ever since an early hour, Next day I proceeded on my journey. I had place. out his perceiving me. "What sport, to day?" and it was now evening, a glowing autumnal sun Having reached the inn and refreshed myself, II said, by way of opening the conversation. Taken almost verging on the horizon, when on reaching went out on foot to enjoy the scenery a little more by surprise, he gave such a start that I thought he the summit of a steep hill, I again came in for a at leisure. After pursuing the line of the road for would have tumbled into the water. Upon seeing prospect which seized me with delight. But the a short way, I reached an eminence from which I me, his face, at first full of perplexity, relaxed character of the scenery was in every respect again caught a view of the river, the beautiful into an easier expression, and upon my begging totally different from that before which I had pastures on either side, and rich wood beyond. that I might not disturb him, he said, Oh no, paused the previous day. Instead of highly culFeeling inclined for a pleasant ramble, I began to sir, you don't disturb me. I perceive you are a look about for a stile or a break in the hedge, by stranger," and he resumed his rod. But his mantivated grounds and rich plantations, a wild expanse of heath lay before me, without a single which I might quit the road. But stile there was ner convinced me that he was where he had no vestige of human life or human habitation, but none, and for the hedge, though I tried at various business to be, and that when surprised by my beautiful in its rudeness, and glorious in its freepoints, to effect a passage, I only succeeded in approach he had imagined he was detected. He dom. All hill and dale, you could fancy that the stinging my hands with the nettles, and tearing probably anticipated that I should make this in-sea during a storm had been suddenly transmuted my clothes amongst the briers. The sight of a ference, for he presently urged me with many engateway a little further on presently relieved me; treaties to accept of some fish, which I could not I proceeded towards it, but to my disappointment, help looking upon as a kind of hush-money. instead of affording the accommodation I looked for, it was fenced round about with brambles in such a manner as to form a barrier impenetrable as the hedge itself. My spirit of opposition began to be roused; I had wished before, now I was resolved to get into the fields; at first my idea was simply to saunter along the hedge-row, and listen to the birds, now I began to think of nothing less than piercing the wood, and exploring the banks of the river. And as "where there's a will there's a way," I did not fail to invent the means which the genius loci refused, and soon found myself placed within reach of all the beautiful objects I had been admiring.

My first movement was in the direction of the wood, which I felt disposed to visit partly from the heat of the day, and partly for the sake of botanical research. I had only entered it a few minutes, when I heard some rustling among the bushes near to me, and the next moment two men, each with a gun in his hand, started up in confusion, and scampering off at full speed, were almost instantly out of sight. Reaching the spot from which they had issued, I found a hare, two rabbits, and a brace or two of partridges on the ground, besides several articles of use lying strewed about, which sufficiently convinced me that the men were poachers who had, no doubt, mistaken me for a gamekeeper, and preferred flight

to encounter.

This reminded me that I was myself trespassing, and having no wish to meet with gamekeepers at that moment, nor to be convicted of poaching on circumstantial evidence, I retreated whence I came and, taking another course, made towards a long sloping field, which I saw at some distance, and from which I promised myself I should behold some points of the prospect to peculiar advantage. So I should if I could have obtained entrance to it, but upon a nearer approach, I found it was

with all its waves into so much solid land. Heath and fern and the mountain violet, and the little harebell were to be seen on every side mingling It was now getting late, and I began to turn my their pleasant company, and, what contributed steps towards the inn, following the directions of above all to the fine wild character of the scene, my friend the angler, who took the greatest pains various clumps of noble fir trees from different to oblige me, and gave me all possible instruction parts of the heath moved their stately heads at one respecting lanes and fields. Nevertheless I ex- another. The blue margin of distant hills crowned perienced all the same kind of difficulties and a obstructions on my return that had beset me before. High fences, fortified gates, stone walls, broken glass, &c. that might almost make one suppose the country was invaded by an enemy, encountered me in all directions. Having made my way through one of the enclosures, I just perceived, as I was leaving it, that "spring guns and man traps" were "set in these grounds," and had to be grateful for having neither been killed nor maimed for life, in the course of my walk.

It was nine o'clock when I reached the inn, where, after paying a visit to the manger, I sat down to my own supper, in company with two or three other persons; my host soon added himself to the party, of which I was not sorry, since he seemed as willing to give information as I was to receive it.

"Yours is a beautiful part of the country," I
said.

"Yes, sir; our travellers always admire it."
go on," I continued; "I never saw grounds so
"But it seems we are only intended to peep and
determinedly closed up, so hermetically sealed
against all entrance."

"Why, sir, there's plenty of fences and such
like," said my host," but between ourselves I
don't see much use they are of, for our people
hereabouts are a queer set; night or day never out
of the preserves, always after mischief, and my
lord might as well try to shut the birds out of his
park as them."

In reply to my inquiries, he informed me that the surrounding lands were divided between two proprietors, a noble earl and an M. P., whose

picture nearly panoramic. I don't know how it was, but I felt no particular desire to stray from my path just then; I say I don't know how, for I own it occurred to me as a strange thing that I should not. The day before, when it was as much as ever I could do to get off the road at all, I seemed to have taken a special fancy for rambling; now, with miles of open country before me, I seemed content to enjoy the prospect without exploring it.

After pausing thus for a few minutes to satiate my admiration, I moved slowly forwards over a little strong road that crossed the heath, looking to the right and to the left at every step, that nothing in that exquisite scene might escape me. One thing remarkable soon excited my observation; this was the amazing number of hares and rabbits, that sported about the bushes like children in a nursery; nor seemed less trusting, for they frequently came within a yard of me; and one or two of them even ran under the horse's legs. Yet I never attempted to strike them down, nor did I feel any disposition for pursuit, as I do not frequently go after game. I should not think it worth while to remark this circumstance, but that I am obliged to confess, that, on the preceding day, excited, perhaps, by the example of the men whose successful exploits in the wood I had been a witness to, and partly, I fancy, because every prize is "sweeter for the theft," I did aim a blow, though without effect, at a rabbit that sprang up near me. Proceeding a little further, I began to catch the delicious music of moving water that more and more audibly bubbled and tumbled until I reached what proved to be a vigorous mountain

stream, clear, fresh and joyous as youth, in which I counted a greater number of the finest trout and gudgeon within a few seconds than I ever remembered to have seen before. I had sympathised on the former day in the pleasures both of the bathers and the angler, and could very willingly have joined either of them; but, ample as the means of indulgence now were, it so happened that I did not experience the same inclination. I seemed to be too grateful for all that I might do, to do any thing.

most violent excitement about their street being
paved or macadamised. Some declare that to pave
it will pave the way to ruin; while others main-
tain that macadamising will leave them deeper in
the mud than ever. To save disputes, the best
way would be to cut it into a canal, and by taking
the omnibuses off their wheels, they might ply up
and down as usual as patent gondolas. An im
mense saving to the public would be effected by
this arrangement, as no one could be asked for
half-pence by parties undertaking to sweep the
crossings. We merely throw out this as a hint,
which, from the sort of schemes that we daily see
put into operation, we have no doubt will be

I had now nearly cleared the heath, and was approaching a few humble dwellings that lay on the borders of it, when I came up with a hearty intelligent-looking old man, whom I found bind-readily acted upon ing faggots on the road-side.

"Good evening, father," I said, "I presume you belong to this hamlet; if so, I could wish to follow your employment for the sake of its situation."

"It is a pleasant country, sir," he replied. "Aye, that it is," said I," and what a famous rabbit warren you have got, and what a famous trout stream! Yet one thing strikes me as very remarkable; pray tell me, is the heath always so free from visitors as I see it to-day? I should have expected it would be filled with people from morning till night, considering all that it affords; instead of which I have not met a single human being for the last four miles. But it is not usually so, I fancy?"

"Why, sir, you see, we are rather lonely," said he, "I don't think more than a dozen people come over the heath all the week through. To be sure there's a few sporting gentlemen generally visit us for a few days in the season, and we pick up a little money amongst us by serving them with victuals and things; but there's nobody comes about here, sir, in a regular way."

After a few further inquiries, I parted from the old man, and getting into the main road again, started off at a round pace in hopes to reach the next town by nightfall.

But may not this example, thought I when I had leisure to reflect, furnish an evidence in favour of that liberty, which is only demanded rudely because it is withheld arrogantly? Is it in the nature of men to commit outrages when in a state of enjoyment? No. Then make men happy, and fear not to make them free. Our desires increase in an inverse ratio to their indulgence.

A pleasure hung out of our reach, acquires to our imagination a new and peculiar excellence, a relish that it had not before; the wish grows to a want, the want becomes a necessity. Let those who are in authority show themselves intent upon opposing our inclinations, and the result is, that we are incited to seek after and to demand much more than we should otherwise have thought of. A mighty power, that ought to sleep, was awakened the other day; that popular indignation which could not be long withstood. The machinations of its opposers were set at naught, their threats were laughed at, their power openly defied, and we all know the consequences. It is the same in small things as in great. Let blessings which can be bestowed on all, be liberally bestowed, and they will be enjoyed peacefully and in moderation. Where much is granted little is abused. We are a fidgetty and fanciful people; therefore, while we hear of privileges and advantages that are not for us, we set no bounds to our opinion of their importance; we are likewise a determined and powerful people, therefore, when we have set our hearts upon an object, no matter what it is, that object, by hook or crook, cost us what it may, we follow and obtain; but, lastly, we are a just and reasonable people; therefore, when we feel we are in possession of our proper comforts and our proper freedom, we shall know we have got all that we need have, and feel no desire left but to live together in peace and obey the laws.

THE OXFORD STREET CONVULSION.-The inhabitants of Oxford-street are in a state of the

REMEMBRANCE.

I ought to be joyful, the jest and the song
And the light tones of music resound through the
throng;
But its cadence falls dully and dead on my ear,
And the laughter I mimic is quench'd in a tear.
For here are no longer, to bid me rejoice,
The light of thy smile, or the tone of thy voice;
And, gay though the crowd that's around me may
be,
I am alone, when I'm parted from thee.
Alone, said I, dearest? O, never we part-
For ever, for ever, thou'rt here in my heart;
Sleeping or waking, where'er I may be,
I have but one thought, and that thought is of thee.
When the planets roll red through the darkness of
night,

When the morning bedews all the landscape with
light,

When the high sun of noon-day is warm on the
hill,

And the breezes are quiet, the green leafage still;
For nature is kind and seems lonely as I ;
I love to look out o'er the earth and the sky,
Whatever in nature most lovely I see,
Has a voice that recals the remembrance of thee.
Remember-remember-those only can know
How dear is remembrance, whose hope is laid low;
'Tis like clouds in the West that are gorgeous still,
When the dank dews of evening fall deadly and
chill.

Like the bow in the cloud that is painted so bright,
Like the voice of the nightingale heard through the
night,

Oh, sweet is remembrance, most sad though it be,
For remembrance is all that remaineth for me.
Friendship's Offering, 1838.

LOVE TRIUMPHANT.

Love, with every active ardour,
Points at once and leads the way,
Scorning langour, fears no danger,
Busy always, always gay.
Constant tending tow'rds it's object,
Nature's wants can scarce allow,
Quite absorb'd in one fair project,

Bids all sordid cares adieu.
Foreign thoughts dare no where enter,
Vain intruders seek for pow'r;
Cupid in the soul keeps centre,

Marking each succeeding hour.
Hearts ennobled with this passion,

Feel themselves almost divine;
Nought on earth can call attention,
Whilst in union such combine.
Sweet illusion! pleasing charmer!
Shed thy magic o'er my mind;
All the bliss of love discover,

All the bliss of human kind.

JUVEN.

STANZAS BY A MISANTHROPE.

They tell me gaze not on that eye

That beams no love for thee;
Nor shed one tear-nor breathe a sigh-
She never sighed for me!

The sigh, the tear, may rise, may fall,
Unheeded it may be;

But think you, are her smiles at all
Now half so dear to me?

Oh, woman's faith! I thought it bright
As rainbow in the sky;
But little thought th' illusive light
Had pass'd as quickly by.

And Friendship! where thy garlands now
That we were wont to twine?
Lives there the wish-th' enraptur'd vow
Breath'd at thy magic shrine?
"All flesh is grass," and fleet as wind,
Tho' time his course pursues;
At every stage he leaves behind,
Love's faded flowers he strews.
Trust not the morning's smiles that cheer,
Or tints at eve that burn;

The morrow, when it comes, will bear
The pangs these smiles adorn.
'Tis mine in desert's gloom to dwell,
With storm and cloud to soar;
They are no friends that once will smile,
And smile again no more.
Though life a Circe's cup did flow,
I'd quaff it o'er and o'er ;
There's none so joyless but may joy
On bliss that's now no more!

The Mother and Widow are in hand and will shortly appear.

The following are declined and lie at our publisher's, addressed to their respective authorsThe Church-How various are man's wantsThe Child of Mirth-Money by Miss VidgenPoetry and Music, by R. V. P.-London-On the Queen's Visit to the City-Thoughts on Night.

Correspondents are requested to send their communications (Post paid) not later than Wednesday previous to publication, addressed to the Victoria Literary Club, at their office, 12, Wellington Street, Strand.

THE STAR.

No. 12 will be published on Saturday next, and will contain an exquisitely beautiful drawing, illustrative of the female character to whom it is respectfully dedicated.

No. 8 is now reprinted and may be had of the trade.

Printed for the Proprietor, by A. REDFORD, 96, London Road, Southwark, and Published by JAMES BOLLAERT 12, Wellington Street, Strand; and Sold by BERGER, Holywell Street; CLEAVE, Shoe Lane; W. STRANGE, 21, and E. GRATTON, 51, Paternoster Row; G. MANN, 39, Cornhill; CLARKE, Warwick Lane; PATTIE, 4, Brydges Street, Convent Garden; HETHERINGTON, Strand; PURKESS, Compton St.; WATSON, City Rd.; CLEMENCE, City Road; RICHARDS, London Road; and to be had of all Booksellers and Newsmen in Town and Country