The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 477, February 19, 1831

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Various. The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 477, February 19, 1831

MOUNT ST. MICHAEL, NORMANDY

NIOBE

THE RHINE

L'ENVOY

KATERFELTO

NOTES OF A READER

PUBLIC EXECUTIONS

BURNING ALIVE

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS,

LAW AND LAWYERS

RICH AND POOR

SUNDAY

BURNS

THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD

MR. ALLAN CUNNINGHAM

DUELLING

CARDINAL MAZARIN

"GOD SAVE THE KING" IN ITALY

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SHAKSPEARE

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS

WEBER AND DER FREISCHUTZ

DIRGE

MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS

PREPARATIONS OF MILK, PARTICULARLY OF MARES' MILK, USED BY THE KALMUCK

SOMERSET

THE GATHERER

SLEEPING IN CHURCH

A CONVINCING PROOF

ASTRONOMY

THE PENNANT

CHESTNUTS

DEATH AMONGST LIONS

ANTIQUITY OF PORTERS

STANZAS ON MADAME VESTRIS HAVING ESTABLISHED A THEATRE OF HER OWN

LORD ANSON

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The interest attached to this extraordinary place is of so popular a character as fully to justify its introduction to our pages. It is situate at the southern extremity of the ancient province of Normandy, a district of considerable importance in the early histories of France and England. The "Mount" is likewise one of the most stupendous of Nature's curiosities, it being one mass of granite, and referred to by geologists as a fine specimen of that primary or primitive rock; or, to speak untechnically, of that rock "which is most widely spread over the globe in the lowest relative situation," and which contains no remains of a former world.1 St. Michael's therefore stands pre-eminently in the sublime philosophy of Nature. It figures also in the page of man's history: its early celebrity is recognised in the chronicles of olden France and England; and it promises note in the history of our own times; since to this monastic spot will the political balance of France, in all probability, exile the person of the ambitious Polignac, ex-minister of France. The reader will perhaps suspect the political concatenation of Lulworth Castle, the Hotel de Ville, and the Palais Royal in our last volume; and the Prison of Vincennes and Mount St. Michael in the present. Instead of catching "the manners living as they rise," we appear to be looking out for crowns and ministers headlong as they fall.

St. Michael's is in that portion of Normandy which is not often visited by English tourists. One of its recent visitors was Mrs. Charles Stothard, wife of the distinguished artist, who, in 1820, published a narrative of her journey in, the autumn of 1818. Mrs. Stothard's description of the "Mount" is dated from Avranches, a coast town of some consequence, not far from Caen. Speaking of the delightfully situated town of Avranches, the fair correspondent says,

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In reply to the question of your correspondent—"Who was Katerfelto?" I am enabled to offer the few brief particulars which follow. With regard to his birth, parentage, and education, I am, however, not qualified to convey any information. I know not "to whom he was related, or by whom forgot." I became acquainted with him about the year 1790 or 1791, when he visited the City of Durham, accompanied by his wife and daughter. He then appeared to be about sixty years of age. His travelling equipage consisted of an old rumbling coach, a pair of sorry hacks, and two black servants. They wore green liveries with red collars, but the colours were sadly faded by long use.

Having taken suitable apartments, the black servants were sent round the town, blowing trumpets and delivering bills, announcing their master's astonishing performances, which in the day time consisted in displaying the wonders of the microscope, &c. and in the evening in exhibiting electrical experiments, in the course of which he introduced his two celebrated black cats, generally denominated the Doctor's Devils—for, be it understood, that our hero went under the dignified style and title of Doctor Katerfelto. Tricks of legerdemain concluded the evening's entertainments.

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