end of the year 1813, on the sea-shore, in the immediate neighbourhood of Santander, in the province of Santander, in the north of Spain.
The mountains which bound and traverse the whole of the northern provinces of Spain, appear to be a continuation of the Pyrennean range—and the regular succession of the primitive and newer rocks, is very beautifully illustrated in travelling from east to west, especially in the picturesque vallies of Biscay; in the course of which, the most magnificent sections are produced by the impetuosity of the winter torrent. In that portion which skirts the shores of the province of Santander, the principal rocks are sandstone and limestone, occurring in alternate strata. Coal is found near Reynosa, in the higher districts, as well as at Laredo, on the coast. In one of the lowest members of this series, close to the shore, I found a considerable mass of yellow amber, firmly imbedded in the limestone. The union was so perfect, that it was impossible to separate the amber without shattering it into small fragments. The whole was extracted, and is now in London, with some of the limestone. The fact was mentioned in letters to two scientific friends in Britain, soon after it was noticed. M.
NUGÆ LITERARIÆ.
I.—The Black Prince.
There is a wonderful simplicity and beauty in the following humble epitaph on so great a man as the Black Prince. The author is unknown but it would probably be composed by the best poet of the age, perhaps by Chaucer, who was at this time in the height of his reputation, and, from his travels in France, must have been well acquainted with the French language. The verses are introduced by this inscription:
Cy gist le noble Prince Monsieur Edward aisnez fils de tres noble Roy Edward Tiers: Jadis Prince D'Aquitaine et de Gales, Duc de Cornwaille, et Compte de Cestre, qi mourust en la Feste de la Trinite q'estoit le viii. jour de juyn, l'an de grace, mil trois cens Septante sisine. L'Alme de qi Dieu cut merci, Amen.
Epitaph.
1
2
3
Mes ore su jeo poures[7] et chetiffs
Perfond en la tre gis.
Ma grand beauté est tout alée:
Ma char est tout gastée.
4
5
Pour Dieu priez au celestien Roy
De mercy ait de l'ame de moy.
Tous ceux qi pour moy prieront,
Ou a Dieu m'acorderont
Dieu les mette en son Paradis,
Ou mil ne poet[10] estre chetiffs.
II.—Spenser.
In Tod's Life of Spenser, in which there is to be found much valuable information regarding the studies and pursuits of this great man, and the state of English literature at that period, there is a curious letter of Spenser's friend, Harvey, in which he recommends to the author of the Faery Queen the study of Petrarch. "Thinke upon Petrarche, and perhappes it will advaunce the wings of your imagination a degree higher—at least if any thing can be added to the loftiness of his conceite, whom gentle Mistress Rosalind once reported to have all the intelligences at commandment, and another time christened him Signer Pegaso." The gentle Mistress Rosalind, here mentioned, was a lady to whom Spenser was early attached. It shows the poetical conversations with which he and his mistress must have entertained themselves, alluding, as Tod
