Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 58, No. 362, December 1845

Another curious experiment was, differently affecting the opposite organs – so that endearment was shown on one side, and aversion on the other, of the same person. One scene was beautiful, for the very graceful motion exhibited. One of these young women was attracted to Dr Elliotson by his beckoning her to him, while by word he told her not to come. Her movements were slow, very graceful, as if moved by irresistible power.

36

You remember the melancholy music of the lines of Moschus: —

"Ἂι Ἂι ταἱ μαλαχαι μεν επαν κατα κἃπον ὄλωνται"Ἢ ταχλωρα σελινα, τδ τ᾽ έυθαλές οὖλον ᾄνηδον,"Υςτερον αὗζωὀντι, και εἄς ἔτος ἄλλ φύοντι."Ἂμμεςδʹ όι μεγἀλοι και καρτεροι ἡ σοφοι ἄνδρες,"Οππότε π ρῶτα θἀνωμες, ἀνἀκοσι ἑν χθονἱ κοἰλα"Εὒδαμες ευ μάλα μακρὁν ἁτερμονα νηγρετον ύπνον."

Accept of this attempt: —

Alas! alas! the mallows, though they wither where they lie,And all the fresh and pleasant herbs within the garden die,Another year they shall appear, and still fresh bloom supply.But we, Great men, the strong, the wise, the noble, and the brave,When once we fall into the earth, our nourriture that gave,Long silence keep of endless sleep, within the hollow grave.

37

Vide an amusing little jeu-d'esprit – A Descant upon Weather-Wisdom – both Witty and Wise.– Anon. Longmans. 1845.

38

There is an exquisite little poem, taken from this passage of Plutarch, at once imaginative and true, for hidden truths are embodied in the tangible workings of the poet's imagination, by Miss Barrett.

39

"Not that I think there was more rain in the earlier part of summer than the potato crop could absorb, for it is known to require a large supply of moisture in its growing state, in order to acquire a full development of all its parts. It was observable, however, that the rain increased as the season advanced, and after the potato plant had reached its full development. It is, therefore, probable that the increased moisture, which was not then wanted by the plant, would become excessive; and this moisture, along with the low temperature, may have produced such chemical change in the sap as to facilitate the putrefaction of the entire plant. As to the theories with respect to the presence of a fungus, or of insects, in the plant, I consider these as a mere exponent of the tendency to a state of putrefaction; such being the usual accompaniments of all vegetable and animal decay."

40

"I remember the wet seasons of 1816 and 1817. There was then no rot in the potato; but, during the whole of those rainy seasons, we had not the continued cold weather which we have this year experienced."