Rev. Dr. Whewell. 89 the words in question; a very cool, if not a slightly impertinent proceeding! In the course of a few weeks, however, after a practical experience of the Pleasures of Hope,' I received the following laconic reply: LONDON, 14th Dec. 1840. SIR,-In return to your note I send you my autograph. THOMAS CAMPBELL. It has long been a common practice for collectors of autographs to apply to distinguished personages for specimens of their handwriting; and before the abolition of franking, Peers and Members of Parliament were frequently favoured with such solicitations. The three following are the replies which I received to applications for their autographs from Dr. Whewell, the late learned Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, Father Mathew the apostle of Temperance, and Miss Eliza Cook. I ought to mention that, in the case of the lady's answer, the handwriting is peculiarly 'perpendicular' in its character: THE REV. DR. WHEWELL. 7 SUFFOLK STREET, PALL MALL, May 14, 1840. SIR, I have received your note, and am, yours auto graphically, W. WHEWELL. 90 Miss Eliza Cook. FATHER MATHEW. CORK, 5th July 1847. MY DEAR FRIEND,-Though painful to my feelings, I cannot refuse compliance with your request. I send the autograph. I am, dear Sir, yours devotedly, On the fly of the letter: THEOBALD MATHEW. It is good not to eat flesh, and not to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother is offended, or scandalized, or made weak.-ROM. 14 c. 13, 14 V. For he shall be great before the Lord, and shall drink no wine, nor strong drink.-ST. LUKE 1 c. 15 v. MISS ELIZA Cook. INGRESS ABBEY, GREENHITHE, Kent, SIR, I accede to your request with great pleasure, and These amusing communications remind me of some clever lines in a work entitled Gathered Leaves (Virtue, Brothers, and Co., 1865), embracing the poetical effusions of Frank Smedley, author of Frank Fairlegh, etc. An African Letter. To MRS. G. H. VIRTUE. Thou better half of Virtue, gentle friend, 91 Before leaving this branch of my subject, I may notice three interesting epistles penned far beyond the pale of European civilisation. Shortly after the lamented death of Captain Speke the traveller, His Highness Sured Majid, one of the most influential of the African chiefs, addressed a very touching letter of condolence to his father, which was intrusted to Colonel Playfair, the British Consul at Zanzibar, for transmission to England. It was accompanied by the following English translation: In the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful. To our distinguished and honoured friend, Mr. Speke, may his glory be perpetuated. May he never cease to be protected from every misfortune, and guarded from every ill afterwards. The reason of our writing this letter is to inquire after your condition. May God avert from us and you every adversity. Secondly, we have heard from the friend of all, Colonel Playfair, consul of the exalted Government, of what has happened to your son, our friend Captain Speke, and our heart is grieved 92 Queen Pomare V. not a little. May God bestow upon you resignation, and cause good to arise even out of misfortune. This is the way of the world. Anything that you may desire of us, by the assistance of God we shall perform. Peace is the best conclusion. From your friend Majid, son of Sured, son of Sultan. 4 Regib 1281 (3d December 1864). In the course of a four years' tour round the world, the vocalists and bell-players, known as the Alleghanians, who visited Edinburgh towards the end of the year 1865, gave several concerts at Otaheite; and on their departure from the capital of the island, they received a letter from Queen Pomare, of which the following is a translation: TO THE ALLEGHANIANS. NOTHING has given me more pleasure than to meet you children of song. our fair island always! flight, you are away. Oh, that you might remain upon But it cannot be; like birds of God bless you in all your journey through life, singing as you go to the realms of immortality. Adieu! Again, Heaven bless you, POMARE V. The last of the three distant epistles already referred to is the celebrated Abyssinian letter to the Queen of England, which Mr. Bernal Osborne declared in the House of Commons was likely to cost the nation the trifling sum of £5,000,000 :— Theodoros of Ethiopia. 93 IN the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, one God in Trinity, chosen by God, King of Kings, Theodoros of Ethiopia, to Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of England.-I hope your Majesty is in good health. By the power of God, I am well. My fathers, the Emperors, having forgotten our Creator, He handed over their kingdom to the Gallas and Turks. But God created me, lifted me out of the dust, and restored this empire to my rule. He endowed me with power, and enabled me to stand in the place of my father. By His power I drove away the Gallas. But for the Turks, I have told them to leave the land of my ancestors. They refuse. I am now going to wrestle with them. Mr. Plowden and my late Grand Chamberlain, the Englishman Bell, used to tell me that there is a great Christian Queen who loves all Christians. When they said to me this, "We are able to make you known to her, and to establish friendship between you," then, in those times, I was very glad. I gave them my love, thinking that I had found your Majesty's good-will. All men are subject to death; and my enemies, thinking to injure me, killed these my friends. But, by the power of God, I have exterminated those enemies, not leaving one alive, although they were of my own family, that I may get, by the power of God, your friendship. I was prevented by the Turks occupying the sea-coast from sending you an embassy when I was in difficulty. Consul Cameron arrived with a letter and presents of friendship. By the power of God, I was very glad hearing of your welfare and being assured of your amity. I have received your presents, and thank you much. I fear that if I send Ambassadors, with presents of amity, by Consul Cameron, they may be arrested by the Turks. And now I wish that you may arrange for the safe passage of my Ambassadors everywhere on the road. I wish to have an |