In November, 1751, Mr. Chafin, who then' resided at Wallop, between Andover and Salisbury, saw and shot at twenty-five bustards, which, after running before him some time, flew very quietly over Southern Hill, and escaped, after frightening his horse by the flapping of their wings. Mr. Chafin, when no longer able to sport, indulged himself in narrating the adventures of the field. He died in 1818, aged 73 or 74 years. No. XXVIII. GENERAL COUNT PLATOFF. a The gallant Hetman of the Cossacks, and General of Cavalry, Count Platoff, one of the veteran warriors whose exploits against the common enemy engrossed, a few years since, the attention of Europe, and a view of whose person was sought after with the greatest earnestness by persons of all descriptions in this country, died, lately, at Novotscherkask, at a very advanced age. The honest ardour with which this brave and loyal chief led on his irregular bands reflects immortal honour upon his memory, and will hand his name down to posterity, as one of high rank among the glorious heroes of his day. Nothing could more strongly prove his personal detestation of the unrelenting ravager of his country, than his promising his daughter in marriage to any man who would bring Napoleon a prisoner to his camp. • The following observations may serve to elucidate his life and character: “ We have not yet received any particulars relating to the precise time, or to the particular disease, which deprived the world of so bright an example of military virtue as the late Hetman Platoff. But we know, from unquestionable authority, that he was in a declining state in the autumn of the last year. About that time we were informed from Tcherkask, that his Excellency was then far from well. The fatigues of the campaign of the year 1812 began to manifest their effects after the stimulus of martial ardour, and that of travelling had subsided; the state of exhaustion was, in proportion, extreme; and he laid himself upon his bed of thickly-gathered laurels, to rest, and to find refreshment; but the attempt was in vain. Nature had been over-tasked, and he sleeps in death. - We must all remember this hero of the Don, pursuing the enemies of his country like the blast of the desert.' We must all remember him in his visit to England, mild of aspect, and gentle in manners— more like the patriarch of his people, than the champion of nations, winged with the energy of youth in its primest vigour. Only a few months have intervened between the death of this venerable chief of the Cossacks, venerable in years and in honours, and the death of Prince Alexander Scherbattoff, his second in command, a man in the meridian of his days, and of his comprehensive services to Russia, who had also to date the germs of his fatal illness from the victorious fields of 1812. These two illustrious warriors had the satisfaction of sharing, side by side, the dangers and the glories of that campaign. They have both died victims to its severity; and both will have a tomb in every brave heart, a memorial that must exist when marble monuments are no more. But the reputation of a consummate General was not the only excellence in the character of the Hetman of the Cossacks. During the investment of the invader's territory by the allied troops, and their consequent inroads upon the French country, he heard that, near one of the spots destined for pillage, might be found the residence of Thaddeus Kosciusko, late General of the Poles, who lived there in the occupation and seclusion of a peasant. Platoff dispatched a party of his Cossacks to protect the person and the property of that great man; once the adversary of thrce invading Sovereigns; but now, even more illustrious in his obscurity and helplessness, than when at the head of his Sarmatian troops. Kosciusko and Platoff met ;- it was the embrace of two brave hearts, as honest as brave. Such hearts are well understood in England. When Platoff related the incident to the narrator of this paragraph, it was with more chan one tear in his eye; and precious are the tears which are drawn by the admiration of virtue. He knew how to value Kosciusko; for he knew that he had not only defended his country against a press of foreign usurpation, but had refused wealth from the late Emperor Paul, and twice rejected the throne of Poland from Napoleon Buonaparte. Rather than receive a pension from the enemy of his country, or be the crowned satellite of any Emperor upon earth, he retired to a miserable village in France, and fed himself on bread and water by the labour of his hands. If this be not honest patriotism, where is it to be found ? He, too, is in his grave, Nay, let us, as Christians, hope that he has rejoined the heroes who were his personal friends, if his political enemies, in another and a better world." No. XXIX. Sir RICHARD MUSGRAVE, BART. OF TURIN IN THE COUNTY OF WATERFORD, IRELAND, We are in possession of materials for a life of this gentleman, E who died at Dublin, in 1818; and also of an analysis of his works. But the want of room precludes the insertion in the present volume. It shall certainly appear in the next. CONSORT OF GEORGE III. KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS OF GREAT BRITAIN, &c. AND ALSO OF HANOVER; TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, A SHORT HISTORICAL DISSERTATION ON THE ANTIQUITY OF THE FAMILY OF MECKLENBURGH-STRELITZ. THE HE House of Brunswick has been peculiarly happy in respect to its historians. The profound researches of a Muratori and a Leibnitz, have been employed in tracing its descent to a remote period, while the "luminous" Gibbon has detailed its antiquities with an elegance, a force, and a precision, that but few modern writers can hope to imitate, far less excel. The House of Mecklenburgh, connected with the reigning family of Great Britain by so many ties-religion alliancehas proved less fortunate Two great genealogists, + Imho blood- and one common descent in this point of view. See "the Antiquities of the House of Brunswick," which although an unfinished production, still exhibits the hand of a master. + Not. Princip. Germaniæ. and Hebner *, however, allow, that if this is not “the most ancient family in Europe, it is certainly the most noble in Germany." An Englishman of the present day, will of course be prompted by a liberal, and it may be added, a rational curiosity to inquire into the history of a race, whence his country obtained a Queen, who has proved a bright and shining example to her sex for more than half a century; who has left behind her a numerous progeny, to supply any occasional vacancy of the throne ; and thus prevented the possibility of long and sanguinary civil wars, the usual concomitants of a disputed succession. Germany never appears to have been united in one great and powerful state. At present, as in ancient times, it is divided into very unequal portions, and no longer possesses even a titular emperor as its nominal head. After the domination of the Romans had ceased, and their armies so long the dread, at length became the scorn of the barbarians, changes equally great, sudden, and important, took place in this part of Europe. According to a tradition, rather confirmed than refuted by the authority of Tacitus, the Heruli, Venedi, and other tribes, generally known by the denomination of Vandals, leaving the forests of Scythia, under the conduct of a leader called Antyrius, who has been complimented by his posterity with the title of king, set out in search of new habitations. They are said to have embarked in a fleet of a very slight construction, the principal vessels of which, carrying their leader, had the head of an ox rudely depicted on her stern. After landing, they wandered about for some time, until arriving at length on the banks of the Oder, they determined to accomplish a settlement. The territory of Mecklenburgh, with the adjacent country, became one of their first conquests, and the horns of their favourite animal – perhaps of their deity, for they were still heathens --- after being gilded, and the head surmounted with a coronet of gold, according to the practice of modern genealogists — has been adopted ever - |