thraldom may be at heart; however much we may wish to see the barrier removed that has so long kept the richest provinces of Europe apart from the remainder, and its populations alien to the rest of the European family; however much we may wish for the exclusion of Muhammedan bigotry and misrule from Europe, for the welfare and happiness of the whole human race; still the solution of the great question as to how that is to be brought about is beset with the gravest difficulties. No man who has even superficially weighed these difficulties will contemplate a first step taken towards such a solution without the deepest anxiety; and although he will feel that he could occupy pages in discussing contingencies, he will still arrive at only one conclusion, which is, that the very extent of the danger, even of a partial conflagration amid such combustible materials, will induce all parties to lend a hand in putting out the fire where it is first lighted up. As to the Montenegrins, who have defeated armies of 120,000 Turks in their best days, being able successfully to defend their country against the renegade Omer Pasha and his degenerate followers, we entertain no doubt whatsoever— the danger lies in the impulse that will be given, even by the success of the Mountaineers, to the long agitated question of Panslavism, and to which the present Vladika is an enthusiastic convert, and in the jealousy with which Austria, who rules over so large a Slavonic population, will view the ascendancy of any such a party in Turkey in Europe. Hence Austria's apprehensions of a war. Should the Porte succeed, its power on the coast of Montenegro is threatened; it cannot, therefore, permit success. But if the Montenegrins triumph, as they ever have done, they fear the ascendancy of Panslavism; and on that question the interests which for the time being allied Austria and Russia, are diametrically antagonistic. As to the employment of the Slavonians to meet the difficulties of the case, they have always composed the military frontier, and they are the most available force for that purpose. But it is impossible to deny that two other categories may have presented themselves to the Austrians; one is, that by the employment of the loyal portion of the Slavonians, under the Ban Jellalich, they might anticipate any Panslavonic movement and turn it to their own account; another is, that in case of hostilities with the Porte, the Austrians and Russians have come to an understanding that the one takes the Slavonian, the other the Greek and Turkish provinces. Montenegro would still remain a sore in the side of Austria, even in this last possible category. The interest of all other countries, excepting Russia and Austria, should Islamism be obliged by the progress of civilisation to withdraw from Europe, is to preserve the nationality of the Slavonian races-Austria and Russia absorbing already too many nationalities-and to protect the rights and independence of the long prostrate Christians of the East generally. The successful advance of the Turks from Niksich, in the Herzegovine, down the valley of the river Zetta, and of the Turks under Omer Pasha, by Podgoritsa and Spuss, up the valley of the same river, is a very untoward incident in the campaign, as the valley of the Zetta separates the four districts of Bielopavalich, Moratscha, Piperi, and Kutska, from Montenegro Proper; but it has not, as has been supposed, any decisive effect, for the mountains themselves have not yet been penetrated; and to judge by the result of past campaigns, the capture of Tzetinie itself, and the devastation of the mountain, has never yet sufficed to extinguish totally Montenegrin independence. MY VISIT TO THE "MYSTERIOUS RAPPINGS," AND WHAT THEY THE MOTHER'S FAREWELL. BY J. E. CARPENTER BY SIR NATHANIEL. No. VII.-" CAU- UP THE HUDSON, ALBANY, TROY, BUFFALO, ERIE AND ONTARIO, TORONTO-DOWN THE ST. LAWRENCE, MONTREAL, QUEBEC— CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY. To whom all Communications for the Editor are to be addressed. SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. PRINTED BY CHARLES WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE, STRAND. NOW PUBLISHING IN THE NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. THE FLITCH OF BACON: OR, The Custom of Dunmow. BY W. HARRISON AINSWORTH, ESQ. This Tale of English Home, commenced in the JANUARY NUMBER of the NEW MONTHLY, will be continued regularly until completion. JANUARY. PART THE FIRST.-THE OLD INN AT DUNMOW.-Chap. I. From which it may be inferred that Perseverance in a Good Cause will meet its Reward. II. How Jonas Nettlebed counted his Chickens before they were hatched. III. Of the Strange Guest who arrived at the Flitch. IV. How Abel Roper, the Steward, obtained an insight into the Old Gentleman's breast. V. Showing that Frank Woodbine should have Looked before he Leaped. VI. The Jury of Bachelors and Maidens; and what they did. FEBRUARY. PART THE SECOND.-THE GAMEKEEPER'S COTTAGE. - Chap. I. How Dr. Plot visited the Old Priory Church of Dunmow. II. A Peep at the Gamekeeper's Wife. III. Dr. Plot gives Reasons for his Disbelief in Conjugal Felicity; and relates the Particulars of an Unfortunate Marriage. IV. The Pigeon and the Rook. MARCH. PART THE THIRD. THE LORD OF THE MANOR OF LITTLE DUNMOW.--Chap. I. In which it is shown that there may be More Ways than One out of a Cellar; and more Rooms, than are generally suspected, in an Old House. II. The Wager. III. An Essex Foxhunter of the Old School. IV. In which the Tables are slightly turned upon Captain Juddock; and Jonas begins to look up a little. LONDON: CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY. NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. THE FLITCH OF BACON: OR, THE CUSTOM OF DUNMOW. A TALE OF ENGLISH HOME.* BY THE EDITOR. The Bacon was not set for them I trow, That some men have in Essex at Dunmow. CHAUCER. Wife of Bath's Prologue. PART THE FOURTH. The Haunted Chamber. I. HOW THE ROOM CAME TO BE HAUNTED. Down the dark corridor, at the very end, lies the Room. The fourth door, and the last. Tread carefully. The boards are rotten in places, and you may perchance fall through them, and break your neck upon the pavement beneath. Shame to leave them in such a dangerous condition. Yet this wing of the Old House is so little frequented, it seems scarcely worth while to keep it in repair, Jonas thinks. A few years more, he says, and it will be altogether in ruins; if, indeed, it will last so long. Peep into those disused chambers as you pass by; preserving amid woful dilapidation an air of former splendour. Many a lovely dame has rested there in days gone by. Conjure up, if you can, those phantoms of delight. Re-people the deserted chambers, and furnish forth again their crumbling walls with the glories of the looms of Flanders. Strange noises the rats make! They swarm in this part of the house; and squeak and gibber, like the sheeted dead, behind the hollow wainscots; scampering after each other, and detaching fragments of wood and bits of mortar in their play. The clatter increases. Are the noxious creatures NOTICE.-The Author reserves the copyright of this Tale in France, and the right of publishing a French Translation of the work; as provided by the Treaty. April-VOL. XCVII. NO. CCCLXXXVIII. 2 D bursting forth in legions to devour us, as they did Bishop Hatto, in his Tower on the Rhine? No. 'Tis only the cat that has jumped down the chimney, and brought two or three loose bricks along with her. Shut the door, and leave grimalkin there, to keep those pestilent rats quiet. How the casements rattle! The wind finds its way through the broken panes. Shield the light, or it will be extinguished. Those windows look upon the garden; and the tall trees, growing in front of them, cast a shade over the passage, making it gloomy, even at noontide, when the sun shines brightest. い Well! we have arrived without accident. Here is the Room. But stop! before entering it, let us note the glass-door at the end of the corridor, communicating with a flight of wooden steps outside, that descend into the garden. Through that glass-door, and down those steps, Nelly and Frank Woodbine hurried, when the latter escaped from the bailiffs. Hastily traversing an arcade below, running parallel with the upper corridor, and formed of open transom-windows of oak, supported by a wall, breast-high; they made their way by tortuous passages to the cellars where Frank was locked up, as already narrated. But it is not merely in reference to this circumstance that we desire to call attention to the glass-door. Things less substantial, it is asserted, than the innkeeper's buxom wife and the young gamekeeper, have glided through it, without stopping to draw back the bolt. A female figure, enveloped in a shroud, has issued, at dead of night, from the adjoining chamber, and passing, with noiseless footsteps, along the cor ridor, has disappeared by that outlet. This phantom Carroty Dick, and others of the household have witnessed with their own eyes; and they will swear to the truth of the story. Nay, more, pretty Peggy happening to be alone on one occasion in the passage, was frightened almost out of her wits, by seeing a ghastly face, with hollow eyes, glimmering like fenfires, stare at her through the door-panes.. No one believes in ghosts now-a-days. Superstition has not a leg left to stand upon; or rather modern philosophy and scepticism have striven to cut the ground from under it. Yet, in spite of our incredulity, very few of us like to sleep in a haunted room; and if put into one by chance, in an old country-house having fearful traditions connected with it, our slumbers are apt to be disturbed, though we care not to acknowledge our nocturnal alarms next morning at breakfast. But a veritable Ghost's Room now awaits us. Let us enter it boldly. A cheerful fire at any rate, and ample provision in that basket of wood for keeping up the blaze. Merrily crackle the logs upon the hearth; the flaming pile being supported by andirons, with heads like brazen shields. The chimney-piece is immense; advancing far into the room, and springing to the very ceiling. In the centre of the upper compartment, once fairly painted and gilded, may be discerned the proud blazonry of the Fitzwalters. On either side of the many-quartered 'scutcheon, and placed in a little niche, a saintly image; the outer pilasters crowned with busts. The floor of black polished oak; the wainscots of the same wood, and partly hung with faded tapestry; one piece of which, bearing date 1450, is worked with the following legend: |