The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 398, November 14, 1829. Various

writing, and the parties themselves drew up their own cases. Those who had settled this manner of proceeding well knew that the eloquence of advocates very often darkened the truth, and misled the judge. They were unwilling to expose the ministers of justice to the deceitful charms of pathetic, affecting orations. The Egyptians avoided this by making each party draw up the statement of his own case in writing, and they allowed a competent time for that purpose.8 But to prevent the protracting of suits too long, each party was only allowed one reply. When all the evidence necessary for their information was given to the judges, they began their consultation. When the affair was thoroughly canvassed, the president gave the signal for proceeding to a sentence, by taking in his hand a little image adorned with precious stones, which hung to a chain of gold about his neck. This image had no eyes, and was the symbol with which the Egyptians used to represent Truth. Judgment being given, the president touched the party who had gained the cause with this image. This was the form of pronouncing sentence. According to an ancient law, the kings of Egypt administered an oath to the judges at their installation, that if the king should command them to give an unjust sentence, they would not obey him.

      THE TOPOGRAPHER

      CLIFTON HOT WELLS

(For the Mirror.)

      Glide, Avon, gently glide....

      More prodigal in beauty than the dreams

      Of fantasy,… beneath the chain

      Of mingled wood and precipice, that seems

      To buttress up the wave, whose silvery gleams

      Stretch far beyond, where Severn leads the train.

      Gilpin says, and says truly, that "the west is the region of fine landscape;" it also follows as a natural consequence that it predominates in the number of its artists. The beautiful vignette of Clifton in a recent number of the MIRROR,9 has recalled a multitude of interesting recollections to my mind. I have passed a good deal of time there at several periods, and as the writer of the description accompanying the vignette has been led into an error or two, perhaps a few desultory notes by way of pendant to his paper, may not be entirely devoid of interest to the reader.

      1

      Manual, translated by Gore.

      2

      Gill's Technological Repository, vol. iv. p. 208.

      3

      Travels in China.

<

1

Manual, translated by Gore.

2

Gill's Technological Repository, vol. iv. p. 208.

3

Travels in China.

4

Tour on the Continent.

5

Nat. Hist. Norway.

6

See, for instance, the narrative of an accident from the rising of such an animal, in W. Tench's "Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson."

7

See a remarkable instance in Voyage de la Perouse autour du Monde, vol. iii. p. 10.

8

All this must be understood with some limitations, otherwise we must suppose that all the inhabitants of Egypt had not only learned to write, but that they had sufficient talents and knowledge of the laws, to draw up their own defences, which is not to be supposed. This law then must have been liable to some exceptions and modifications. We must say the same thing of other countries where they tell us there are no advocates, and that all trials are carried on in writing, as in Siam, China, Bantam, &c. Origin of Laws, G.M. Gognet.

9

See MIRROR, No. 390.

8

All this must be understood with some limitations, otherwise we must suppose that all the inhabitants of Egypt had not only learned to write, but that they had sufficient talents and knowledge of the laws, to draw up their own defences, which is not to be supposed. This law then must have been liable to some exceptions and modifications. We must say the same thing of other countries where they tell us there are no advocates, and that all trials are carried on in writing, as in Siam, China, Bantam, &c. Origin of Laws, G.M. Gognet.

9

See MIRROR, No. 390.