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diff --git a/42492-8.txt b/42492-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ee3c7b2..0000000 --- a/42492-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6607 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Lady Eureka, v. 2 (of 3), by Robert Folkestone Williams - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Lady Eureka, v. 2 (of 3) - or, The Mystery: A Prophecy of the Future - -Author: Robert Folkestone Williams - -Release Date: April 8, 2013 [EBook #42492] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY EUREKA, V. 2 (OF 3) *** - - - - -Produced by eagkw, Robert Cicconetti and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - LADY EUREKA; - OR, - THE MYSTERY: - A PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE. - - BY THE AUTHOR - OF - "MEPHISTOPHELES IN ENGLAND." - - IN THREE VOLUMES. - VOL. II. - - LONDON: - LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, - PATERNOSTER-ROW. - 1840. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - I. A CONVERSATION UPON THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE. - II. AUSTRALIAN CIVILISATION. - III. POSTHUMOUS AND HIS MUSEUM. - IV. A CONVERSAZIONE. - V. THE PHILANTHROPIST IN TROUBLE. - VI. CHINA, ITS LAWS, CUSTOMS, AND PEOPLE. - VII. A CHINESE POET. - VIII. THE MONSOON. - IX. GAME LAWS IN INDIA. - X. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE DANGER OF GOOD INTENTIONS. - XI. ATHENIA. - - - - -EUREKA; - -A PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -A CONVERSATION UPON THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE. - - -"Now, doctor, you know my secret, and the whole of it," said Zabra, at -the conclusion of a long and interesting narrative he had communicated -to Dr. Tourniquet, upon one of his professional visits. "Let not a word -pass from your lips concerning what I have told you, for it would do me -irreparable mischief. Be in your behaviour to me exactly as you have -been. The slightest alteration would create suspicion, and that I am -most anxious to avoid. May I rely upon you?" - -"Rely upon me!" cried the surgeon, while his good-natured countenance -was glowing with benevolence. "If you ever catch me saying a word, I'll -allow any body to make a preparation of me before I'm dead. I'd sooner -demonstrate upon my own skeleton, don't you see, than betray your -secret. By all that's good, you're an extraordinary creature--a more -extraordinary creature than ever I met with in the whole course of my -practice. I always thought there was something strange about you, don't -you see--a mystery I could not exactly understand--but now every thing -appears as simple as the first rudiments of medicine." - -"You gratify me exceedingly by this assurance," observed the youth, "and -I am delighted by your ready acquiescence with my wishes. How can I best -express my gratitude?" - -"Tush, tush--don't talk about that," replied the other kindly. "Knowing -what I do of you, I would do any thing in the world to serve you, don't -you see. Consider me from this time as your father, your brother, or -your friend, and whenever my advice or assistance can be useful, apply -to me, and I will do all in my power to forward your interests." - -"You overpower me with your goodness," said his young companion, -returning the cordial pressure of the hand he had received. "Can I ever -repay----" - -"Tush, tush, never mind repaying," hastily rejoined the doctor. "I -am well repaid by the pleasure it gives me to assist in your noble -intentions, don't you see. But if I may be allowed to give you a little -advice, I should strongly recommend you not to be so careless of your -life as you have been. You are not formed for fighting, don't you see. -You are not strong enough; but notwithstanding that, to my certain -knowledge you paid off many of the piratical rascals pretty handsomely, -and showed them to what profit you could apply the lessons they had -given you. When I think of you finishing some of the scoundrels so -dexterously as you did, I am filled with wonder. However, it is not -right. You stand no chance in the midst of a set of strong ferocious -men intent upon destroying all who oppose them. Your escape is a -miracle; but you should remember that you cannot be spared." - -"Ah, doctor!" replied his patient, with a languid smile, "what made you -join in the conflict? Consider if _you_ had been killed, what would have -become of the wounded." - -"True, true," responded Tourniquet; "I never gave that a thought. But I -had no time to think. I saw every one preparing to fight, and I knew we -should all be massacred if we didn't succeed. Although it was a sort of -trade to which I was quite unused, the examples I saw before me made me -valiant, and when I got fairly into the fray, I found myself obliged to -cut away as hard as I could, don't you see. Fortyfolios, too, didn't do -amiss. It's wonderful how the prospect of being cut to pieces, if one -don't fight, _makes_ a fellow fight. The professor went at it as if -he was at one of his old arguments; and I must say this for him, he -convinced his opponents then much more perfectly than he does in his -verbal disputes." - -"He is not hurt, I hope?" inquired Zabra earnestly. - -"No, but he had a narrow escape," replied the doctor. "A ball grazed -his ear, and a cutlass has scratched his ribs. I should have been sorry -if either had taken the effect intended; for although he is somewhat -dogmatical and intemperate in his manner of arguing, he possesses no -ordinary share of learning, don't you see." - -"How are the rest of the wounded getting on?" asked his patient. - -"Famously," said the surgeon cheerfully; "I think they are all doing -well. I may add, as well as it is possible for them to do. Two or three -of them have been severely used; on one I shall be obliged to perform -an operation. Climberkin's wounds are beginning to heal; Ardent has -returned to his duty. Many have received but trifling hurts, and Hearty, -Boggle, and Master Porphyry have escaped without a scratch. This is -rather surprising, considering that the old man Hearty--Captain Hearty -we must call him now, I suppose--fine old fellow! hacked his way through -the pirates with a cool, steady, determined courage that nothing could -withstand; and as for Oriel Porphyry, he fought like a hero. I never saw -such a change in any man, don't you see. He looked as if he'd been born -a conqueror, and for the first time in his life had ventured into his -right element. There was such a fire in his eyes, and such a grandeur -in his appearance. It was extraordinary. His very looks seemed to kill; -none could resist him." - -"Is he not a noble creature?" said Zabra, his eyes again glowing with -all their accustomed animation. - -"Indeed he is," replied Dr. Tourniquet, with emphasis: "I don't wonder -at your enthusiasm, don't you see. I shall begin to look upon him with -a similar admiration myself. I never could have supposed that the mere -appearance of daring valour was so grand and imposing; but there is -something of the cause of this in his tall manly figure, and handsome -countenance, don't you see." - -"Hush! there is his footstep," exclaimed the youth earnestly, as he -arranged with his unwounded arm the bed-clothes closely around him. -"This place is too dark for him to see very accurately, which is what -I require. There! be feeling my pulse when he enters." - -"How is he now, doctor," inquired Oriel Porphyry, advancing towards -the hammock near which the surgeon stood, seemingly intent upon his -professional duties. - -"His pulse is getting more firm," said Dr. Tourniquet, assuming an -air of great seriousness, "and his wound is suppurating healthily. He -cannot be doing better. But you must apply to the patient for further -information, as I am obliged to go my rounds, don't you see." So saying, -the doctor departed. - -"Are you better, Zabra?" affectionately asked Master Porphyry, seating -himself by the hammock of his wounded friend. - -"Much better, Oriel," replied the youth, as he held out his hand to -clasp that of his patron. The merchant's son felt that the small hand -within his own was dry and hot, and that the flesh had lost much of the -roundness by which it had previously been distinguished. - -"Your skin feels feverish," remarked his companion. "But not so much so, -I think, as it was yesterday; and your eyes look more brilliant. I shall -be delighted when you recover, not only because I miss the rich melody -of your voice, and the stirring eloquence of your conversation, but -because I know the confinement and inaction consequent upon this -indisposition can scarcely be endurable to such a nature as yours. But -when you do recover, which I hope will be speedily, I will take care you -shall not again run into such risks. Who could have supposed that you -were planning such an admirable scheme! I had not the slightest idea of -such a thing. Far from it, I thought, and I blame myself exceedingly -for having entertained a suspicion to your prejudice, that you had some -sinister intention in your behaviour to the pirates. It is only an act -of justice on my part to acknowledge that I have thought unworthily of -you, without a cause; but I am too well aware that such an avowal forms -an inadequate reparation, you must therefore allow me to express my -regrets for the injury I have done you, in a manner more in accordance -with my own sense of right. I am indebted to you not only for life and -liberty, but for all that render them in my case more than usually -endurable; for this I can never be sufficiently grateful: and when my -father comes to know, as know he soon shall, how much you assisted in -rescuing his ship from the pirates, and his son from their weapons, I -am quite sure that he will rather seek to increase than diminish the -measure by which I would show the extent of the obligation you have -rendered. But, besides this, I have a natural affection for you, which -has been created by a knowledge of your amiable disposition and noble -character; and I should wish you always to be with me, that I might as -much as possible profit by the example of your good qualities; therefore -you must submit to the necessity of sharing my fortune, and of becoming -in every respect the equal of myself." - -"This cannot be, Oriel," said the other mildly. "Allow me still the -same opportunities I have enjoyed of watching over your safety; and if, -through my care and attention you are enabled to return unharmed to -Eureka, and your sentiments in my favour remain the same, and she -shows no disinclination to their indulgence, I will offer no further -opposition." - -"This is very strange of you," remarked Oriel Porphyry. "Very strange: I -cannot account for it, except I imagine that there is a sort of pride in -your nature that cannot accommodate itself to any thing in the shape of -favours from another." - -"It is not that," replied the youth languidly. "Indeed, it is not -that. Your kindness has made upon me so deep an impression, and your -friendship has become so intimately commingled with all my sympathies, -that now I should find it a difficult matter to exist without them. But -there are causes which I cannot explain, that prevent my accepting your -generous proposals, independently of which there is nothing in what I -have done that deserves such a return. Remember that my duty here is -to endeavour to preserve you from every danger by which you may be -threatened. I have accepted an office, and I am bound to fulfil its -duties. In the part I played to effect your escape out of the power -of those wretches, I only performed what I had engaged myself to do; -and although my efforts to deceive your captors were repugnant to my -feelings, I continued the deception because I saw that there was no way -of effecting your liberation, but by practising deceit. Again, I assure -you, that Eureka will amply reward me (if a reward be necessary) for any -service I may be so fortunate as to be able to render you." - -"But why am not I to be allowed to acknowledge the obligation according -to my own sense of your merit?" asked his patron. - -"Because it is Eureka's chief pleasure," replied Zabra, with a faltering -voice, "to reward after her own fashion those whom she employs to serve -him to whom she is devoted; and surely you would not wish to deprive -her of a gratification to the enjoyment of which she puts forth, as you -acknowledge, so good a title." - -"Well, well, I must reserve my gratitude for her then, I suppose," said -Oriel Porphyry. "But, of course, you will remain with me as you have -hitherto done." - -"Till there shall be no longer any occasion for my stay," responded -the other. "While you love Eureka, there will always appear to me to -be a necessity for my remaining with you; but when your love for her -disappears, there will be no longer occasion for my presence." - -"Love her I always shall, for I always must; so if your stay with me -depends upon the duration of my affection for her, we are not likely to -separate in this life," observed the young merchant. - -"I would I were certain of it," murmured his companion. - -"Of nothing ought you to be more assured," replied Oriel. "Were I -entirely to forget the dazzling beauty of her features, there is -an earnestness of purpose in her character which will make itself -remembered at all times. The nobility of her sentiments I honoured, by -endeavouring to become worthy of her greatness, and the confidence with -which I was treated excited in me a desire to act in such a manner as -should give her no cause to withdraw it. In her person there appeared -to me the avatar of all things noble, fond, and beautiful, and I did -it homage with so earnest a devotion that my respect soon became an -idolatry. I had no enjoyment except in her presence; I could find no -excellence from which she was absent. I honoured her above all honour. I -regarded her as the best as well as the dearest of human beings. I was -eloquent in her praise, and devout in her worship; and thus from day -to day passed the joyous time, teeming with happiness, and prodigal of -honours, till there seemed in the eyes of each to be no wealth and no -distinction worthy to be desired, which the other did not possess. Truly -was Eureka all the world to me. An empire was in her love, and all -honourable things were in her gift." - -Zabra had listened attentively, but nothing save a brighter glow in his -lustrous eyes expressed the interest he took in the conversation. He did -not attempt to interrupt the speaker, and when the last sentence was -concluded he made no reply. - -"Can you add nothing in her praise, Zabra?" asked Oriel Porphyry, after -a pause of a few minutes. - -"She requires no praise, Oriel, certainly none from me," replied the -youth. "Your applause is no doubt gratifying to her--for the heart -that truly loves cannot exist but in the estimation of the lover. But -there is an eulogy beyond mere praise, for which the devoted are ever -desirous--the strong and earnest love, whose voice is action, and whose -language is sympathy." - -"And that does she possess," rejoined his companion earnestly. "My -sympathies are with her at all times, and at every place, and there is -no act that I perform in which I do not consider the interpretation I -would have it bear in her affections. I am afraid, Zabra, this encounter -with the pirates has stirred up again all those ambitious notions I have -fostered with the design of achieving a renown worthy of her greatness. -Certainly my first efforts in traffic, among such mean scoundrels as -Boor and his brethren, did not give me so exalted an opinion of my -father's profession as he and others possess. But any opportunity like -the one which has thus accidentally fallen in my way will throw my blood -into a ferment, and make my spirit yearn after a fair field in which to -develope its energies, as they now exist. Yes, I feel as if I could only -live in a life of enterprise. Inaction seems to chain me down into a -slavish bondage; but when the weapon is in my grasp, and the motive -within my soul, an atmosphere of freedom breathes around me, and I rise -above the herd into something nearer the superiority to which I aspire." - -"From what I saw of you in our late affray, I cannot help acknowledging -your capability for a leader," said the youth. "You looked as if you -were born to conquer. Your bearing was such as would induce thousands to -follow in your footsteps--and your weapon flashed annihilation in your -path." - -"Pooh! it was a paltry enemy," replied Oriel disdainfully, "and they -were easily crushed; but let me be at the head of armies; let my -battle-field be a kingdom, and my enemy a tyrant, and then I will show -of what spirit I am made." - -"That cannot be, Oriel," added the other. "You must be satisfied with -what you are; and as that condition is sufficiently honourable in the -eyes of Eureka, you ought not to indulge in more ambitious aspirations. -The risk you run in this life of enterprise should also be considered. -Remember that you would hourly be in danger of immediate death, and if -that were to happen where would be your ambition, and where would be -Eureka's happiness? No! it is a subject of congratulation that there are -no armies for you to lead, and no tyrants for you to conquer." - -"There I think you are mistaken," cried his companion eagerly. "If I do -not misinterpret the signs of the times, there is a spirit stirring in -Columbia which will soon make itself evident in appearances that will -not a little alarm its weak and despotic ruler. There is a cloud over -the face of the whole country, and it will not be long before it break -out into a mighty storm. Then let them look to themselves. It will come -with a rush that must sweep away every obstacle before it. The whole -of our complicated machinery of misgovernment will be broken up into -fragments so small, that no future tyrant shall be able to patch it -together again--and then will come the day of reckoning for the people. -The task-masters will themselves be brought to task, and have to con the -lessons they have set others. I only wish to live to see that day. I -only wish to put myself forward in the movement--and lead the way that -shall give freedom to my fellow-citizens. I am confident of the result. -No power on earth can resist a mass of men struggling to break the bonds -by which they have been fettered, when the impetus by which they are set -in motion is properly directed; and for their chief I know, I feel I -have all the necessary qualifications. Then I should be in my proper -place. Then would the energies which now render my nature restless and -dissatisfied have ample scope for their developement--and then, Zabra, -my friend and brother, you should behold me performing such actions as -shall more worthily excite your admiration, than the inglorious one of -destroying a few wretched pirates." - -"You almost convince me of the desirableness of seeing your visions of -glory realised," remarked Zabra, with increased animation. "I did not -imagine it would be possible; but when I listen to you, I find myself -wishing you to play the noble part for which you are so well fitted: but -then the thought of the dangers to which you will be exposed fills me -with dread. I know that in you Eureka has concentrated all her hopes of -happiness; and when I reflect upon the perils of the sort of life you -are desirous of leading, I fear that it will end in no good to either -her or you. But we will talk of this again at a future time. In what -state have you found the ship and her cargo?" - -"The ship is as much changed as it is possible for any vessel to be," -replied the merchant's son. "I scarcely knew the Albatross again. -Externally she has not suffered, but her interior accommodations -have been completely altered. She has been pierced for thirty guns, -all of which are ready for immediate use--a powder magazine has been -formed out of one of the cabins, which is abundantly stored with -ammunition--weapons of every description are piled up in immense -chests--and provisions for a long voyage have been carefully provided. -The cargo has not been touched. It is evident to me, that that scoundrel -Compass, or Death, or whatever his name was, imagined that I would join -him in his nefarious scheme to entrap my father's vessels; and as he -knew he could not find so good a market for his plunder by any other -plan, he fancied that I could be induced to assist him in its disposal. -Propositions of this nature he made to me; and although every time he -spoke on the subject I felt an inclination to hack him into shreds, -seeing the uselessness of any attempt at resistance, I concealed my -indignation as well as I could, till you communicated to me your plan -for our deliverance. I saw that it could not fail of success, if -ordinary vigilance was used; and my hatred of the miscreants by whom I -was detained led me to play my part in the deception, which was attended -with all the result we anticipated. Your wound is the only drawback to -the delight I feel at our escape." - -"Oh, think not of that!" exclaimed the youth warmly: "it will soon be -healed." - -"I hope so," responded Oriel. "As for the captain of the gang, I am -only sorry that I had not an opportunity of acknowledging to him my -obligations. But I think I have spoiled his career of piracy, that is -one subject for congratulation. His retreat is destroyed--he has no -vessel--and one half of his men are as well provided for as if the -hangman had done his duty. But he was a bold villain. If what he has -said of himself be true, he was fitted for better things; and from -what I remarked in him, I conclude his narrative was true, at least a -considerable portion of it. It appeared to me as if he only affected the -vulgarity of his associates; for there were times when his conversation -rose into something much superior to his ordinary language. It is -evident that his intention was to put to sea almost immediately, and -commence a new career of plunder and violence--happily we have been -enabled to disappoint him; and I intend, at the first port we touch at, -to add to our crew a sufficient number of able-bodied seamen, as will -not only work the ship effectively during her voyage, but will defend -her with resolution in case she should be attacked. Although I have not -more inclination for a mercantile life than when I first came on board -this vessel, I will not, in any way, unless it be unavoidable, diverge -from the path my father wishes me to pursue, until I return, and then I -shall expect to be allowed to follow my own inclinations, and choose my -own road to distinction." - -"It must be so, I suppose," remarked Zabra. "Any opposition on my part -would be fruitless--nay, if it were not for the dangers which you must -encounter in a life of active warfare, I should be among the first to -approve of your ambitious desires--I should love to see you the creator -of your own glory--I should delight in the honours you would achieve--I -should rejoice in your renown--but I must think of her whom I serve, -who, although she would equally admire your greatness, could not avoid -thinking of the perils of the path by which only it can be acquired, and -must live in a state of constant anxiety while you were pursuing your -dangerous career. You do not think sufficiently of her feelings. Why -can you not be satisfied with inheriting the fame and wealth of your -admirable father, and the happiness which must surely be your own as -long as you prove yourself anxious for its possession?" - -"Why does the sun shine?--why does the tide ebb and flow?" said Oriel -hastily. "They follow the end for which they were made, and the same -absolute law compels me to make out the purposes for which I was -created. There is nothing so unreasonable as expecting one human being -to become like another whose nature is entirely opposite to his. I have -known inconsiderate persons say to one whose disposition is restless and -dissatisfied, and whose inclinations are violent and ungovernable, -'Look at such a one--he is content with his condition, and goes on his -own quiet way, creating no desire that cannot easily be indulged; why -cannot you be like him?'--as easily might the mountain torrent be made -like the stream of the valley. One flows on its own level course, -meeting with no obstruction, and the other, at every portion of its -path, is forced to dash itself against the unrelenting rocks that oppose -its progress. And how unjust is the manner in which each individual is -regarded! one is praised for continuing its unvarying tranquillity--and -the other is censured for the unceasing turmoil in which it exists. -This is preposterous. No more have such characters made their own -dispositions than the stream made the level land through which it flows, -or the torrent created the rocks over which it leaps. Dam up the gentle -rivulet with huge masses of stone, and see how quickly it will become as -much troubled as its unjustly abused associate of the mountain; and take -the rocks from the path of the torrent, and the quietude with which it -will pursue its course will rival the tranquillity of its over-lauded -brother of the valley. If there is any praise due at all it is to him -who struggles on against all impediments, and shows that his spirit is -not to be put down by the obstacles that retard his progress. Complain -of his being restless and dissatisfied--how can he be any thing else, -when his soul is kept in a constant fret by the worry of continual -opposition? Say that his inclinations are violent and ungovernable--can -it ever be otherwise, when they are daily accumulating in force, because -they are allowed no opportunity for indulgence? Nothing can be more -unjust to a man thus situated than to tell him to endeavour to be like -another, whose situation is as opposite to his as are the poles to one -another; and nothing can be more unwise than to complain of this man, -because his disposition does not resemble that of another, whose way of -life, and habits of thinking, and hopes and passions, are as different -to his as any two sets of things can possibly be made. As for me, I am -what I am--neither better nor worse. Let those who think me worse than -I am keep to themselves their evil thoughts, that the force of ill -opinion does not make me become what they unjustly imagine me to be; but -let those who think me better than I am proclaim to me their flattering -testimonials, that, knowing what excellences they fancy I possess, I -may use every exertion to deem myself worthy of their good opinion, -and at last succeed in obtaining the very qualities for which I was -undeservedly honoured by their too indulgent regard." - -"Ah, Oriel!" replied his young companion affectionately, "you know it -would be difficult for any one who knows you well to imagine a quality -of good you have not made your own." - -"If I listen to you, I must be content to remain what I am," said Oriel -Porphyry, as he rose to take his leave. "And as such a state of things -does not satisfy me, to prevent myself being spoiled for any better -purpose, I must, for the present, leave you--of course with my best -wishes for your speedy recovery." - -"Thank you, Oriel, thank you!" exclaimed Zabra warmly, returning the -affectionate pressure of the hand he at that moment received, and -following, with his eyes overflowing with his friendly feelings, the -retreating form of his kind and generous patron. - - - - -CHAP. II. - -AUSTRALIAN CIVILISATION. - - -Time had passed. The vessel had gone gallantly on her voyage, and was -now quietly riding at anchor in the port of Sydney, the magnificent -metropolis of the great empire of Australia. Oriel Porphyry had landed -to transact business with an individual of some note in that part of -the world. Posthumous was an extensive manufacturer, who had amassed an -immense fortune by a mechanical discovery he had purchased, by means of -which one machine was made to do the work of ten; and the funds at his -disposal he employed in forming a museum, which he intended leaving, -at his death, for the benefit of his country. His love of fame was -his ruling passion; and to acquire it he seemed inclined to make any -sacrifice. He accumulated every thing which he considered rare or -curious for his museum; but, as he was no judge of the value of -the collection he was forming, he often purchased things perfectly -worthless, merely because they were recommended to him as objects that -might be regarded with the greatest interest by posterity. To all who -visited him, his pride was to exhibit his collection; and, although none -were more ignorant of its real nature than himself, none could expatiate -so much at length upon its merits. He was a walking catalogue--a talking -index--a living table of contents; and he seemed as if he knew of no -pleasure that did not allow him to display his museum and gossip about -every specimen it contained. - -Oriel and Zabra were walking together to the residence of the person -thus described, when the former, doubtful as to whether he was pursuing -the right direction, observing a man leaning against a post near a -crossing at a short distance, went up to him for the purpose of making -inquiries as to the exact locality of the place of which he was in -search. The man was a street sweeper. His broom was beside him; and he -was so intent upon a book he appeared to be studying, that Oriel noticed -its title. It was "Geometry for Beggars." - -"Pray can you direct me to Botany Square?" inquired the young merchant. - -"Botany Square is an ellipsis," replied the matter-of-fact sweeper; "but -if the transverse, conjugate, and abscissa are known, it is easy to find -the ordinate. To proceed to it from this point requires a right line to -where the next street appears at a right angle with it, whence, going -along any part of its superficies, you will approach where the sides of -three streets form an isosceles triangle; take the one side nearest to -you in its whole extent, which having found, describe the area of a -trapezium, whose diagonal is equal to twice its perpendiculars; and from -the centre continue a right line till you approach a trapezoid whose -sides are parallel; and from this, diverging in such a manner as to -construct a hyperbola, if straight lines be drawn from the centre -through the extremities of its conjugate axis, these will lead direct -to the ellipsis you are desirous of finding." - -"Can you direct me to Botany Square?" again asked Oriel Porphyry, -puzzled to think whether the man was mad or did not understand his -question. - -"Botany Square is an ellipsis, I tell you again," said the geometrician -rather sharply; "and Euclid himself could not have described to you a -more accurate method of finding it than that you have just heard from -me. Work the problem properly, and the result must be what you require. -All the parts are equal to the whole; the greater includes the less; -and of several equal parts all are alike: and these propositions are -not more true than is the answer I have given to your query; therefore -allow me to hope that you will, in consideration of the accuracy of my -analysis, find the perpendicular of your pocket, subtract from its base -any circle whose circumference is a known quantity, and place it within -the superficies of my hand." - -"He's mad!" exclaimed Oriel, walking on. - -"He's minus!" cried the beggar, and returned to his geometry. - -The two pedestrians continued on their way, wondering not a little at -meeting with the strange character with whom they had just parted, when, -upon entering the next street, they observed a confused mass of people -running to and fro, shouting and making a most discordant uproar. - -"Can you tell me the cause of this disturbance?" inquired Oriel -Porphyry, addressing a respectable looking mechanic who was hurrying -past him. - -"The cause?" replied the stranger, immediately stopping in his career. -"The cause is always the phenomenon which precedes the effect. -Philosophers have disputed about the most appropriate definition of the -term; but in any system of transcendental ideas there must always be an -antecedency and a subsequency; and although they have been considered -synchronous in their existence, in my opinion the effect is to the cause -what the shadow is to the light--the shadow is not in the light, but is -produced by the operation of the light upon an object; so the effect -is not in the cause, but is produced by the action of the cause upon -an agent. Some metaphysicians conceive that the relation of cause and -effect should be considered as a synthetical judgment _ā priori_--a -postulate of pure reason. In my opinion, this idea is open to many -objections; but I will avoid all argument on that point for the present, -and merely go into an analysis of the nature of causation. There are -three indispensable conditions to any philosophical theory of causation. -In the first place, there are two objects--the agent and the patient. -Secondly, there are three changes, which are--that of the agent, reason -of the effect; that of the patient, effect of the action; that which is -produced by the patient on the agent, and the effect of re-action. And, -thirdly, there are four distinct moments, which are--that which leads -to the action, that which commences with it, that of the re-action, and -that which immediately follows the re-action. And----" - -"And pray, sir, what has all this to do with the disturbance about -which I inquired?" said the young merchant, as much puzzled with the -mechanic as he was by the beggar. - -"You asked for the cause, and I am explaining to you all the phenomena -which a cause may produce," responded the other. "But I regret I cannot -stop to describe to you my original ideas on the subject. If you are -anxious to apply your mind to their investigation, you will find them -in the Philosophical Chimney-sweep's Penny Magazine; and if I can be -of service to you in any other way, you can always command me on the -shortest notice, and on the most reasonable terms." So saying, he placed -a card in Oriel's hand, and was very quickly out of sight. The card -was of a pink colour, was glazed and embossed; and on it was elegantly -engraved, "Leibnitz Kant Chummy, Chimney-sweep and Nightman to the Royal -Family, in all its branches." The two friends found quite as much wonder -as amusement in what they had heard. - -"I had been told that these Australians were the most enlightened people -on the earth," remarked Oriel; "but I certainly never expected to be -mystified after this fashion by two individuals belonging to the very -lowest ranks, upon merely asking a simple question." - -"Perhaps they are exceptions to the mass," replied Zabra; "and every one -else we meet we shall doubtless find as common-place as we require. Try -this old fish-woman: it will be extraordinary, indeed, if you meet with -either geometry or metaphysics in her." - -Oriel approached a female whose sex was scarcely distinguishable, as -she squatted by a basket of fish, in a man's old great coat and hat. -She observed a stranger advancing towards her; and, believing him to -be a customer, she held up one of her fish so as to put all its good -qualities into the best situation for minute inspection. - -"Fine and fresh--worthy to make a dinner for a prince!" she exclaimed. - -"My good woman, can you tell me the attraction which brings all these -people together?" asked Oriel Porphyry. - -In a moment the old hag put down her fish, and, with the seriousness of -a Socrates, replied, "There are three kinds of attraction; which are, -the mathematical, the mathematico-physical, and the physical attraction: -of which of these do you require a definition?" - -"Confound the people, they're all alike!" exclaimed the young merchant; -but the old dame, without noticing the exclamation, continued:-- - -"Suppose A to be a glass of any comfortable liquor with which you may -feel inclined to treat me, and B my mouth, which is at all times very -desirous of a coalition with the same. When A moves towards B, it is -evident that B has the power directly or indirectly of drawing or -attracting A; and when you notice this, and measure the law of the -motion, and discover that A moves as if attracted towards B by some -simple law, you will easily be enabled to ascertain what will take place -if the motion continue. This is mathematical attraction. When it becomes -evident that A not only moves towards B, but that B is an agent in -the motion created, as, to satisfy the thirst or inclination of B, -A is attracted towards it, A always moving where there is thirst -or inclination, but never where neither exist, then this is called -mathematico-physical attraction. And when, by a power existing in B, A -is drawn towards it without any other exciting cause; thus, if nothing -else in the world existed but A and B in a state of rest, and A move -towards B by some influence which is as much a part of its nature as its -thirst or inclination, then would be created what is called physical -attraction. And now, for a trifle, I will give you the most convincing -demonstration of the _modus operandi_ of all these phenomena." - -"Perdition seize your A and B, I say!" cried Oriel, as he hastily left -the old woman to her philosophy. - -"An exemplification of repulsion!" muttered she, as she again commenced -endeavouring to dispose of her fish. - -Oriel and his companion had entered a street of shops, in which they had -no sooner made their appearance than they were surrounded by a crowd -of tradespeople, bawling in their ears the excellence and cheapness of -their commodities, and endeavouring to pull or entice them into their -warehouses, the exteriors of which were covered with immense placards, -proclaiming the ruin of the sellers, and the advantages which in -consequence would accrue to the fortunate buyers. - -"Full fifty per cent. under cost price!" cried one. - -"A hundred per cent. below the cost, be assured!" shouted another. - -"I must be ruined in a week, sir!" proclaimed a third, as if rejoicing -at the near approach of his destruction. - -"I _am_ ruined!" screamed a fourth, in a tone of emphatic exultation. - -"My family must starve!" exclaimed a fifth, without the slightest -expression of regret. - -"My family _are_ starving!" confessed a sixth, as if it was a subject of -the greatest congratulation. - -"I have seven children, sir!" whispered a little man, apparently as the -most enticing recommendation of his goods. - -"I have a wife and ten!" bawled a companion, in a voice of triumph that -seemed to silence all competition. - -"This way, sir!" - -"No; this way!" - -"The best goods!" - -"The very best!" - -"Mine are the cheapest!" - -"Mine are much cheaper!" - -And thus they went on shouting at and pulling the two young men -about, till they were obliged to seek refuge in one of the shops; -but immediately they entered the threshold, the whole body of eager -applicants for custom left the strangers to the care of their more -fortunate fellow-tradesman. - -"Really you shopkeepers seem inclined to tear your customers to pieces," -observed Oriel Porphyry with considerable indignation. - -"Merely the effect of competition, sir," coolly replied the chapman, -spreading out his wares for inspection. - -"Then it is a competition that must be exceedingly disagreeable to the -purchaser," said the young merchant. - -"Can't be helped, sir," added the man in the same careless tone. "When -the supply exceeds the demand, the value of this overproduction must -greatly diminish; and every attempt will be made to produce, at any -loss, an increased consumption. How many pairs of these gloves would you -like to have, sir? You shall have them at a small advance beyond the -cost of their carriage from the place in which they were manufactured." - -"But I have no cash about me," acknowledged Oriel, thinking it would be -sufficient to avoid a purchase that was not necessary. - -"Not of the slightest consequence, sir. I will gladly give you credit to -any amount," said the obliging tradesman. - -"Indeed! why I am a perfect stranger in the country," observed his -unwilling customer with much surprise. - -"No matter, sir," added the other; "public credit must be supported; -all business transactions are done upon its responsibility. Ready money -is destructive of all the true interests of trade; for, as capital in -a state overcrowded in population can never be created in a supply -sufficient for the wants of the community, the surest way of preventing -those dangerous revolutions which so often affect the monied interests -of a great commercial nation is to trade entirely with fictitious -capital. This is credit, sir; and we use every means within our power -to create it to an extent sufficient to supply all our wants, and -to support it in all its sufficiency when it is established. The -manufacturer supplies the wholesale dealer; the wholesale dealer -provides the retail tradesman; and the retail tradesman carries on his -business with his customers upon the sure foundation of credit. Not a -coin is seen in the hands of either party from one year's end to the -other; and a man's wealth is known not by the mere exchangeable property -he possesses, but by the extent of the credit he is allowed. Political -economy is a wonderful science, sir; and the ancients were entirely -ignorant of its true principles. Shall I put you up a few dozen of -these stockings? the price, I assure you, does not pay for the raw -material." - -"Well, well; as you seem desirous of ruining yourself, I do not see that -I ought to stand in your way; so you may let me have a dozen pairs of -the stockings and of the gloves," said Master Porphyry. - -"Thank you, sir," replied the tradesman. "But as for ruin, sir, is it -not done for the public good? Think what a man having a wife and ten -children to support must feel when he knows that he has reduced them and -himself to absolute starvation for the advantage of the community--for -the greatest happiness of the greatest number, sir. Beautiful feeling, -sir; exquisite consolation; a perfect patriotism! He knows that he -becomes a martyr for his country. Think of that, sir! He is conscious of -being made a victim for the general advantage. Think of that, sir! And -while his skin and bones hang together, he feels the sweet solace that -he is allowed to make himself a sacrifice for the wants of those who -never heard of his name. Think of that, sir! Any other article, sir?" - -"Not at present. It is wonderful to me how, in such a state of things, -men can be brought to enter into the pursuits of trade," observed his -customer. - -"All the effect of competition, sir," answered the man quietly. "Fine -thing competition. We should none of us enjoy the satisfaction of being -ruined, if it was not for competition; and the beautiful principle of it -is, sir, that it makes a man consider that he is greatest honoured who -is soonest ruined; therefore we all run a race--and a very anxious race -it is, I assure you. We undersell each other--we dispose of our goods -at a certain loss--we even give them away--and happy is the man who is -ruined before his rivals. Admirable thing, competition! Where shall I -send them, sir?" - -"Send them to Master Porphyry, on board the ship Albatross, now in the -harbour, and I will call and pay you before I depart," replied the young -merchant. - -"Don't hurry yourself, sir," said the tradesman. "Don't hurry yourself, -I entreat. Nay, I should be just as well pleased were you to forget it -altogether, for then I shall be a step nearer to the honour I so much -covet--the distinction of being ruined before any other person in the -same line of business in my immediate neighbourhood. I am grateful -to you for your favours. Any thing you may require, sir--the most -extensive order you can give me I shall be happy to supply on the same -advantageous terms. Any thing you like to accept, sir, is at your -disposal. I implore you to have the generosity to assist in my ruin." - -Zabra and his companion, at last, with great difficulty, got out of the -shop, and proceeded, unmolested, on their way, till they came to an -opening in the street, where several men seemed to be preaching from -little elevations, each to his own separate congregation, yet frequently -alluding to their coadjutors, in such terms as clearly proved that they -were rivals in the trade they had adopted. - -"Come, my children, to me, and I will expound to you the law by which -alone you can be saved from everlasting punishment," exclaimed a fat -faced little old man to his audience. "Fly from the things of this -world--pay your teachers liberally--care not for eating or drinking, or -amusing yourselves with idle pleasures, and you shall live in eternal -happiness!" - -"Fire and brimstone! Flame and torment! Prepare for these, my beloved -brethren!" shouted a lank fellow with a most hypocritical physiognomy. -"Ye who are the elect shall enjoy the good things, but scorching and -burning shall be the everlasting portion of those who are not of our -communion." - -"Heed not the voices of ungodly men, to whom the evangelical grace has -not descended," cried a stern-visaged preacher. "Our way is a way of -mercy, a way of charity, and a way of peace. But rejoice, oh my hearers! -for the time is not afar off when we will smite the unbelievers from -shoulder to hip, till their name be utterly removed from the land." - -"Hear a voice which none can understand, but which is sent to -enlighten the universe," screamed one, whose brilliant eyes and -wild expression of countenance seemed marked by the influence of -insanity--"Hu--ugh--hullabaloo--scrikey-smash--drido--snolk--hi ha -botherum--pickwickicksicceriggidiggy----" - -"I tell thee, friend, thy way is the way of perdition, humph," exclaimed -another, with a nasal twang, and a clean sleek appearance. "Verily it is -the way of the bottomless pit. There is no virtue save under a beaver -with a broad brim, humph! and the spirit can only be found in vestments -of a formal cut, and of a drab colour, humph!" - -"Leave those heretics, my children, who can only hurry you on the road -of iniquity, and enter the bosom of the true church," shouted a brawny -fellow in the dress of a mendicant. "Here is holy water, and here are -relics that have the power of saving your souls from purgatory." - -"Abominations--abominations--the abominations of the scarlet one -of Babylon!" cried one opposite to him with looks of horror and -indignation. "Leave them, and I will sprinkle water upon you, which -will render you a sheep of our fold." - -"Sprinkling is of no avail!" shrieked a melancholy fanatic. "Come -and be dipped--come and be dipped into the waters of everlasting -righteousness." - -"Oh, Fader Aprahams!--Fader Aprahams!" said a dark visaged old man with -a long beard, as he smote his breast, and turned up his eyes to heaven. -"How long shall these obstacles remain in the way of thy chosen!" - -"Down with the Jew!" bawled the rest in hideous chorus--"Down with the -unrelenting Jew! Our religion is one of universal love. Cut the Jew into -a thousand pieces, and cast him to the dogs!" - -"Let us leave these miserable brawlers," exclaimed Oriel, hurrying -his companion from the spot. "Truly has my father said that the only -religion is philanthropy, and the only worship of God consists in doing -good to man. Nothing annoys me so much as observing a parcel of noisy -fellows sowing dissension around them on the hypocritical pretence of -teaching the surest means of saving sinners from perdition. Disputes -about religion, entered into by persons professing different forms of -faith, may be compared to the wranglings of a party of men concerning -the excellence of different roads in a country of the geography of which -all are ignorant." - -"You should not judge of the whole class of teachers by such examples as -we have just passed," remarked Zabra. "That the general influence of the -clerical profession is beneficial has been denied by some narrow-minded -men, who, because there have been a few instances of unworthiness -obtaining distinction in the church, and of vicious propensities -disgracing a professed teacher of virtue, denounce the institution that -created them as unlikely to produce any real good to the community. But -who condemns a fruitful tree, because, while it bears a profitable crop, -a handful of blighted fruit may occasionally be found on its branches? -The clergy are but a section of the vast mass of the social fabric; and -it is as absurd for any one with a knowledge of human nature, to -expect that every individual member of its body should be led into the -profession by no other motive than the love of virtue, as to imagine -that every soldier should be brave and join the ranks only from a desire -for glory--or, that every lawyer should be honest, and embrace the law -exclusively to advocate the principles of justice. It is, certainly, -a natural expectation, that all who affect to show others the road -to heaven should travel that way themselves, and to satisfy this -expectation is the grand object of the institution of priesthood; but it -is as rare that the allurements of the world can be prevented producing -vicious effects upon those who are obliged to mingle in them, as it is -difficult to guard against the encroachments of a disease by those who -are forced to inhale an infectious atmosphere. The wonder should be, not -that any fall, but that so many escape. When we come to consider the -immense contributions to the general stock of intelligence afforded by -the clergy, which embrace every branch of human learning and scientific -acquirement--the active benevolence of at least a large majority--their -unceasing endeavours to instil into the hearts of the people the -refreshing influence of a pure system of morals--and the effect of their -individual respectability in commanding attention to the great object -for which they labour--illiberal indeed must he be who denies the -utility of an establishment productive of so much good. To despise a -sporting parson, a political priest, or a fashionable divine, is both -right and natural, and they must receive condemnation from all who know -how to appreciate the actions of a servant who serves any master but -his own; but while an acknowledgment must be regretfully made of the -existence of such hypocritical pretenders in the ranks of the church, -when we reflect upon the vast fund of real piety, of pure philanthropy, -and of sound learning it possesses, the influence of which cannot be -otherwise than beneficial in the highest degree, we should rejoice that -there is a class of men in existence that provides so liberally for the -moral wants of the people, which, both by the precept and example of -its worthiest members, affords such admirable means for counteracting -the evil effects likely to be produced by its inefficient or immoral -brethren. That the clergy produce good, it is impossible to deny; and -that they do not produce so much good as is desirable, arises more from -inaptitude in the community to be taught, than from want of ability in -the clergy to instruct." - -"You deserve a rich benefice for your defence, Zabra," said Oriel -Porphyry, with a smile; "and I have no doubt if those sentiments -continue, and you embrace the profession, you will become one of the -highest dignitaries of the church. But what is this fellow talking about -so earnestly? More wonders, I suppose." - -He was a man ill-clad and ill-looking, who carried a bundle of papers in -his hand, which he was trying to sell to the persons who were listening -attentively to some intelligence he was bawling in the street with all -the strength of his lungs. - -"Extraordinary example of combustion!" shouted the fellow. "All the -materials of matter which made up the bodies of Cutandrun, the famous -inventor of infallible fire-escapes, and his family, have been placed in -a state of decomposition by the action of phlogiston upon his house and -stock. Here is a philosophical account, detailing the causes and effects -of the phenomena--giving a scientific analysis of the ashes found in -different situations--with an entirely new theory of the laws which -render combustion so destructive in its agency upon inflammable matter. -Only one penny." - -"Well, that is certainly one way of describing a fire," observed Oriel -Porphyry. "But chemistry, I suppose, is as well understood here as other -branches of science appear to be. However, we must be proceeding, or we -shall never arrive at our destination. As I am very doubtful about the -right direction, I think we had better avail ourselves of one of these -vehicles." - -The director of a small light carriage for two persons was then hailed; -and the two friends were about to enter it, when several boys, carrying -bundles of papers, ran up to them, and commenced vociferating with loud -voices entreaties to purchase their goods. - -"Buy the Sydney Philosophical and Critical Quarterly Review. Only one -penny," cried one little urchin. - -"Here's the Universal Encyclopædia of Useful Knowledge, only one -halfpenny," exclaimed a second. - -"Neither are to be compared to these treatises by the Society for the -Diffusion of Science among the Insane, sir,--only one farthing!" bawled -a third. - -"Away with you!" shouted Oriel Porphyry, as he sprang into the carriage, -followed by his companion. - -"At what velocity shall I apply the power?" inquired the conductor very -civilly. - -"Oh, moderate; and put me down at the house of Posthumous, in Botany -Square," said his customer. - -"Yes, sir," replied the man. - -"Here's an article on the ponderability of imponderable substances; -worth double the money for the whole review," cried one of the little -booksellers. - -"Here's a treatise on----" but what it was on must remain unknown; for -both Zabra and his patron were far out of sight and hearing of their -tormentors before the last sentence was concluded; and, in a few -minutes, they found themselves opposite a stately mansion, which they -stopped some time to examine. It seemed an edifice of more modern date -than any near it on either side. A flight of broad steps led, under a -small portico supported by pillars which in thickness seemed to rival -their length, to an entrance by folding doors large enough to admit a -regiment of soldiers, over which was placed three draperied figures in -marble, sculptured as large as life, blowing trumpets towards three -points of the compass, and dropping each a wreath upon the bust of a man -with a foolish countenance, upon the base of which, in large letters, -was conspicuously placed the name "POSTHUMOUS." Small windows were on -each side, and above the door. Over the portico was placed a row of -caryatidæ, resembling opera dancers making a pirouette, that supported -an entablature, upon which a cumbrous attic was raised, forming an -elevation as heavy and incongruous as it is possible to conceive. - - - - -CHAP. III. - -POSTHUMOUS AND HIS MUSEUM. - - -With considerable parade Oriel Porphyry and his companion were ushered -through long passages containing a variety of monstrous antiquities, -into a small room filled with books and curiosities, where, at a -curiously shaped table covered with a number of strange things, sat the -original of the bust over the door--a man much beyond the middle age, -with a short body, long legs and arms, broad shoulders, a clumsy head, -and a foolish face. He was dressed in a tawdry morning gown, and was -examining some articles of rarity brought him by several dealers, who -were waiting till he had made his purchases. - -"You tell me that this is a very rare copy," said Posthumous, appearing -to regard with much attention a large book he held in his hand. - -"The only copy in existence, sir, I assure you," replied the bookseller. -"It fetched thirty guineas at the sale of Bookworm's library." - -"And you are quite convinced that it is the stupidest book that ever was -published?" inquired the collector. - -"I have abundant testimonials to prove it, sir," rejoined the other. -"The fact is, that the work, when published, which was as much as a -thousand years ago, was so generally attacked by the reviewers for the -incomprehensible nonsense with which it was filled, that the author, in -a fit of shame, tried to buy up all the copies; and in this design he -succeeded, with the exception of the one you have, which had fortunately -fallen into the hands of a person celebrated for collecting works of a -similar nature. All the rest were destroyed." - -"And how much do you want for it?" asked the buyer. - -"As you are a particular customer, and as I am very desirous that it -should enrich the Posthumous Library, for which it is admirably adapted, -I shall only ask you twenty pounds," said the seller. - -"'Tis mine--and there's the money!" exclaimed the former, as if -delighted with his purchase. "And you are quite sure it is decidedly -the stupidest book in existence?" he added. - -"I am positive," replied the other. - -"Inestimable treasure!" cried the collector, clasping the volume in an -ecstasy. "Now has the Posthumous Library a jewel which the whole world -could not rival. Have you anything else?" - -"Here is an unique copy of a very rare work, called 'The Philosophy of -Flea-catching,' in sheets, clean and uncut. The learned Scribble-gossip -says that this volume has now become so scarce that there is only one -other copy extant, which is in the public library in India. This, -however, has one important advantage over the other, which renders it -of incalculably more value; for, if you notice, it has the Finis at the -end printed backwards." - -"Wonderful!" muttered his patron, as he noticed the extraordinary -feature. "And what shall I pay you for it?" - -"Only ten guineas, sir." - -"There they are; and much reason will posterity have to congratulate -itself that I am the fortunate possessor of 'The Philosophy of -Flea-catching,' with the Finis printed backwards." - -"Exactly so, sir, exactly. Your observations are always full of meaning. -I wish you good morning." - -"Good morning, Catalogue, good morning--and mind you show me everything -rare that comes into your possession," cried Posthumous. - -"Depend upon it, sir, you shall always have the first refusal," replied -Catalogue; and he took his departure. - -"And what have you brought me wrapt up in that green baize, Marble?" -inquired the wealthy manufacturer, of a little shrivelled old man, who -had been waiting for an opportunity to exhibit the article he had for -sale. - -"An antique--a real antique, sir!" said the little fellow, hastily -taking off the covering. "The bust of a beautiful lady of rank, from the -the chisel of the immortal Chantrey." - -"Why she hasn't any nose!" exclaimed the virtuoso in a tone of -disappointment. "Her face is battered to pieces, and she has lost half -her shoulder." - -"All the more valuable for that, sir," replied the man very coolly. "It -shows its antiquity. I could have brought you many things more handsome -to look upon, but so rare a piece of sculpture I have never yet had in -my possession. Look how exquisitely that neck is formed! Charming, sir. -Though not a feature is visible, the bust breathes an air of grace which -it is impossible to look on without admiring. Sawdust, the great timber -merchant, offered me fifty guineas for it to adorn his gallery, but -I remembered that my generous and enlightened patron Posthumous was -forming a museum, and, knowing that this was the very thing he -required, refused the offer." - -"Very good of you, Marble. I detest that Sawdust; he has no taste," -remarked the collector. "But are you sure this is an antique?" - -"Am I sure of my existence, sir?" replied the little man, looking as -dignified as he could. "My judgment in these matters is infallible. But -as you do not seem to appreciate the merit of this beautiful example of -art, I shall take it to Sawdust." - -"Not for the world, Marble!" exclaimed Posthumous, producing the money. -"Here's the price; but, I must say, I should have liked it all the -better if it had possessed something like a human countenance." - -"Take my word for it, sir, that is not of the slightest consequence," -said the man, as he pocketed the money. "The spirit of a great artist is -upon it, and that is all that a connoisseur should look to." - -"And what have you there?" inquired the purchaser, perceiving that the -dealer was uncovering another specimen. - -"A picture, sir--and _such_ a picture!" responded the man emphatically, -as he proceeded to place a small old oil painting in what he considered -the most advantageous light. "A _chef d'oeuvre_, sir; a work of one of -the old masters. An undoubted original. Don't you feel a sort of emotion -overpower you as you stand before it?" - -"Why, I do feel rather queer; but I thought it was indigestion," replied -the connoisseur, closely examining the picture. - -"Psha!" exclaimed the little man rather contemptuously. "You ought to -feel the all-pervading influence of superior genius. You are looking -upon a master-piece. Do you remark the harmony with which the colours -are blended in that wonderful production, the poetical treatment of the -subject, and the sweet repose that pervades the picture?" - -"To tell you the truth," said the patron, looking a little puzzled, "I -have been examining it very closely, and I can see nothing at all." - -"The effect of the great age of the picture, sir," responded the -dealer. "The influence of time has destroyed every vestige of colour -on the canvass; and it is impossible to make out a single feature in -the painting. But be assured, sir, it is a wonderful production--an -invaluable work of art. Emperors would be glad of such an addition to -their collections; and artists would travel over half the world to gaze -upon an example so unique. I have had many handsome offers for it, sir. -Sawdust bid very high. He knew its value, sir. But I resolved that it -should enrich the invaluable Posthumous collection of paintings; and I -therefore offer it to you at the low price of two hundred guineas." - -"Humph! I'm obliged to you, Marble," remarked the manufacturer, still -poking his foolish face as close to the canvass as he could, and -apparently hesitating about making the purchase. "That fellow Sawdust -has no soul for these things. But what is it about, Marble? I should -like to know the subject. Tell me what it is about, Marble." - -"Why, sir, it is about--as far as I and all the best judges can -ascertain--it is about the most ancient painting in the world," replied -the dealer. - -"A very fine subject," said the connoisseur; "and now I do begin to -perceive a sort of a what's-a-name. But do you think posterity would -applaud my giving such a price for such a painting with such a subject?" - -"They could not do otherwise than greatly applaud your fine -discrimination and admirable liberality," responded the little man -with all the enthusiasm of a picture-dealer. - -"Then I must have it," remarked Posthumous, as he paid the money; -"posterity will reward my exertions." - -"There is no doubt of it, sir. I wish you good morning," cried the man, -bustling out of the room with an air of peculiar satisfaction. - -"Good morning to you, Marble," exclaimed the collector, still closely -examining the painting; "and if you have any thing rare, be sure to let -me know. But, if it be in sculpture, I should prefer seeing something -with a nose to it; and if it be a painting, although this is a capital -subject, I should like it to be a little more easily made out." - -"I will endeavour to meet your wishes," said the dealer; and he made his -bow. - -"Capital subject!" continued the connoisseur, still intently poring -over his puzzling purchase: "capital subject--but I don't see it very -clearly yet. There is a something there, and there is a something here; -but--hullo, gentlemen!" he exclaimed, noticing his visitors for the -first time. "I beg pardon; but I really did not know you were in the -room. Have you brought me any curiosities--any thing rare or antique?" - -"This letter will explain to you our business," replied Oriel Porphyry, -handing a note across the table. - -"Sit down, my good sir, sit down," cried the antiquarian; and, on his -visitors complying with his request, he proceeded slowly to read the -letter; and, during the period he took in its perusal, Oriel amused -himself with examining the extraordinary contents of the room in which -he was sitting. The chamber was low and dark, and every corner in it -was filled with books heaped up together, without the slightest attempt -at arrangement; some glittering with handsome bindings, new and -unsoiled; and others old and ragged, covered with dirt, and dark with -age. With these were pictures, some leaning against the wall, some upon -chairs, others one upon another upon the floor, surrounded by huge -fragments of stone, broken pieces of statuary, bronzes, ancient weapons, -specimens of pottery, and a variety of other antiquities. Here was a -full-length statue deprived of a leg, there an antique bust with half a -nose; in one place a vase gaping with a conspicuous fracture, in another -a sepulchral urn chipped out of all resemblance to what it once was. Of -all the varied contents of the room, there remained nothing that had -not in some manner been rendered useless, if at any time it had been -considered of value, or, if perfect, had the slightest pretensions to -be considered antique. But the most amusing piece of antiquity in this -collection was evidently the proprietor, whose face and head expressed -a more perfect appearance of want of intellect than the most skilful -sculptor could have produced. His nose was a bulging lump of flesh, that -looked like any thing but the thing for which it was intended; his eyes -were deep set in his head, and were continually gazing in a settled -stare of foolish wonder and delight; and his mouth, which was more than -usually large, when its possessor was not talking stood invitingly half -open, as if to ensnare all the flies in its neighbourhood. And with -these characteristics there was a pompous manner with which he said his -foolish nothings, that rendered the man more highly ridiculous. - -"So you have come to purchase, instead of to sell," exclaimed he with -much astonishment. "I had rather you had brought me some rare antiques -to enrich my museum--the Posthumous Museum, as it is called. Do they -talk of it in Columbia?" - -"I cannot say I ever heard it mentioned," said Oriel, endeavouring to -conceal a smile. - -"Ah! posterity will do me honour; and it is for posterity I labour," -added the manufacturer. "But I will give orders about what you require -by and by. In the meantime, you must take up your abode with me, that -you may be enabled to appreciate all the wonderful things I have -collected in my museum for the benefit of posterity, that, when you -return to your country, you may say how invaluable is the Posthumous -Museum, and how enlightened and liberal is he who has spent a large -fortune in collecting together its precious contents! I shall have a -conversazione this evening, when you will meet with some of the most -celebrated literati in this great empire; till then, I will endeavour to -amuse you by making you aware of the value of this unrivalled collection -of antiquities. In the first place, you behold this dagger," said he, -showing an ordinary weapon of that description. "Well, this is the -identical dagger that Macbeth saw in the air when he exclaimed, 'Is this -a dagger that I see before me?' and so on." - -"But Macbeth merely imagined that he beheld such a weapon," observed -Oriel, amused at the credulity of his host. - -"Exactly so; and this is the very weapon Macbeth imagined he beheld," -replied the antiquarian. "It is undoubtedly genuine: I have documents -to prove it. This is the very seal with which Magna Charta signed -King John--no!--King John signed Runnemede--no, that's not it -either--Runnemede signed the Barons--I am not just sure I have it now, -but it must be one or the other. And this is the very seal;" and he -produced a seal about the size of a small lantern. "Here is an undoubted -Jew's harp--a great rarity. I don't know what Jew it belonged to; but -its genuineness is placed beyond suspicion." - -"It bears no resemblance to the harps in present use, either in size or -appearance," remarked Zabra. - -"A proof of its great antiquity," replied Posthumous. "You see it has -but one string. Now, it is upon record that, at a remote age, there was -a fiddler called Pagan Ninny. Whether he was called a pagan because he -was a ninny, or a ninny because he was a pagan, it is impossible to -prove; but certain it is that he played upon one string; and he played -so well, that instruments upon one string came into fashion both among -the Pagans and the Jews; and that is the reason why there is but one -string to this Jew's harp. You observe this cake of mineral substance," -he continued, pointing to a small bluish mass. "There is a deep interest -attached to this specimen. I never look at it without feeling emotions -of--that is to say, emotions of a what's-a-name, with which every monied -man must sympathise. It is the remains of a great man--of a very great -man--of a man whose credit with the world was exceeded by none in his -day. It is the ashes of Abraham Newland!" - -The manufacturer turned away, but whether to conceal a tear or to -produce another curiosity was doubtful; however he was only a few -seconds before he again approached his visitors, bearing a large -fragment of wood crumbling into decay. "But here, gentlemen," said -he, "here is an object that cannot fail to awaken--to awaken--that -is to say, it cannot fail to awaken, but what it ought to awaken -I do not exactly remember now; however, that is not of the slightest -consequence. You have, no doubt, read of England, a very ancient -island. Well, the inhabitants being very industrious did not -like being disturbed by their neighbours, an idle dishonest set -of rascals, who were continually coming upon their territory and -doing a great deal of damage; so to keep out these troublesome -marauders--marauders--marauders?--yes, that's the word, and having very -fine forests of timber in their country, they surrounded their island -with wooden walls; and this specimen, gentlemen, is an unquestionable -fragment of the wooden walls of old England, procured for me at great -expense by a traveller, who being in that part of the world found it in -the remains of a wall within a very short distance of the sea-coast. It -is the only antiquity of the kind in existence. None but the Posthumous -Museum can boast of such an invaluable relic of the ancient ages: for -posterity I acquired it, and for having become its fortunate possessor -posterity will not fail to do justice to my memory." - -Posthumous continued to give descriptions of a great variety of similar -objects in the same fashion, till he approached some pictures, one of -which he selected with great care, and placed in a favourable light. - -"Look at this picture, gentlemen!" he exclaimed, as his foolish face -endeavoured to express something like wonder and admiration. "Observe -the chiaro-scuro--the chiaro-scuro?--yes, that's the word, though I -don't exactly remember what it means. Admire the foreshortening--the -harmony--the repose--the expression, and all that. Fine -effect--admirable picture! The subject is Joshua commanding his son -to stand still. Excellent subject! The son was a very restless boy, -gentlemen, who required to be ruled with rather a high hand; so Mister -Joshua, a good sort of father too, by all accounts, was obliged to teach -him to be quiet in a manner boys don't in general admire. It is painted -by the immortal Snooks. Talk of Rubens, and Raphael, and Corregio, and -Titian, and others of the ancients,--they were never to be compared to -the immortal Snooks--the sublime, the incomparable, the illustrious -Snooks. He had such a miraculous--such an extraordinary--such an -unrivalled--I don't know what it was; but he had something, at any rate, -that was very fine, and gave a sort of wonderful incomprehensible--you -understand me--to such a degree, that seven-and-twenty cities have -carried on a most violent dispute about which had the honour of giving -him birth, and each erected a stupendous monument, having nothing else -upon it but this sublime inscription, 'HERE SNOOKS WAS BORN!' But when -he died, gentlemen, there was a regular scramble for his remains, and -one carried away an arm, another a leg, a third took possession of the -head, a fourth of the body, and many rejoiced in being so fortunate as -to be able to screw off a toe nail, or punch out one of his teeth; and -on the strength of this some forty different towns and cities have -raised most magnificent mausolea, bearing these excruciating words, -'HERE SNOOKS DIED!'" - -"He must have enjoyed a great degree of fame indeed," remarked Oriel. - -"Yes, sir," replied the connoisseur; "and although he has shared the -fate of many, who, though popular when living, get pulled to pieces -immediately they are dead, his reputation has only increased by it. Now, -gentlemen, let me show you this painting. It is a sea piece, you will -observe, and possesses all that amazing freshness and transparency, -and--and--what d'ye call 'em, which is considered so admirable by the -best judges. You may actually feel the moisture of the water, gentlemen, -if you stay long enough; and that is the reason I put my hat on whenever -I look at it, to prevent catching cold. Poor Tipple! his was a different -fate from that of the immortal Snooks. No one thought of disputing about -the honour of his birth or burial. He enjoyed no post mortem--post -mortem?--yes, that's it--he enjoyed no post mortem gratifications. -The nails were left upon his unhappy toes, and the teeth remained -undisturbed in his miserable jaws. But he was a great artist,--who could -paint water as he did? None! There was a sort of an indescribable, -inimitable--and--and a whatso'name in his water, that nobody else's -water ever looked like. You could see your face in it, Sir. But somehow -or other while he was--not a hewer of wood--but a drawer of water, -whether the sight of such a pure, sweet, refreshing beverage made him -continually thirsty, I'm not certain, but he drank, gentlemen, not his -own water, even when he drew it ever so mild, but strong waters, till -they overpowered his weak constitution, got into his upper story -by an hydraulic--hydraulic? Yes, that's the word--by an hydraulic -power of their own, till he created a deluge in his own body, without -the use of colours, which spoiled his palate, and made him obliged -to brush. Ah! Tipple was a great artist. There was a sort of a -truth, a nature, a thingembob about every thing he attempted, which -gave to all his paintings a certain, a--you understand, which is -perfectly delightful to look upon. He has not been appreciated by his -cotempop--contompo--contempo--confound it, I forget the word, but -however he was not appreciated by somebody. But perhaps, like me, he -looked to posterity; and although he has not created a Posthumous -museum, as some of his best productions form a portion of its invaluable -contents, it is very possible that when posterity does me justice it -will not forget the merits of Tipple." - -After Posthumous had detailed at sufficient length his description of -the contents of his library, he led the two friends into a suite of -several rooms, not at all suitable for the purpose for which they had -been erected, in which objects in natural history were arranged, if -arrangement it might be called, for here were animals, vegetables, -minerals, and fossils, mingled together as if they belonged to the -same family, but the specimens, like those in the library, were every -one imperfect--they were all deficient in something or other, which -rendered them comparatively useless to the student and valueless to the -collector. This defect, however, was not observed by the owner, who -imagined that there was not a collection in the world that could boast -of so many unique specimens from the stores of nature and art, as the -Posthumous museum. - -"You see, gentlemen, before you, the wonders of nature, from a tadpole -to an elephant!" exclaimed the manufacturer, in a tone of exultation. -"I have collected these--I have collected them for the benefit of -posterity, and not without considerable expense and labour, as you -may believe. But when a man is excited into action--yes, excited into -action--by an idea so comprehensive, so universal--so whatso'name, as -forming a museum for the benefit of posterity, he thinks not of the -trouble to which he may be put, or the money he may be out of pocket, -when he is endeavouring to develope--yes, that's it--endeavouring to -develope his own philosophical conceptions. Well--this is an--this is -a--this is an animal of some kind, but the name I do not at present -remember. You can at once perceive how much it differs from all other -animals: in the first place, it has four legs--two behind and two -before--an extraordinary coincidence--coincidence? Yes, that's the -word--and it possesses a tail, which, marvellous as it may seem, is -invariably placed upon the rump of the animal, and as nearly opposite to -its head as head and tail can be. Now you will notice the head. It has, -you see--two jaws, one above and the other below; and, though it may -appear strange, the upper jaw never sinks below the under jaw even if -the poor beast be ever so chap-fallen--and the under never rises above -the upper jaw. Very curious that. That animal, you will observe by the -teeth--I don't know how though, is carnivorous--carnivorous? Yes, that's -the word, which means that it eats nothing but grass. It's called by -zoologists one of the roomy--roomy--roomy--one of the roomy something, -but I'll be hanged if I can remember what--and I suppose it is because -it requires a sort of an expanse--an extensive, a--whatdyecallem, to -move about in. Now _this_ animal is a different species altogether. It -is what they call a--you understand. It has the same number of legs, the -same number of tails, and the same number of heads as the other animal, -and yet their natures are entirely, absolutely, and something else -which I've forgot, different. Isn't it wonderful? This is a grani--yes, -a granivorous quadruped, and consequently eats flesh, mutton chops, beef -steaks, or anything else of the same sort. You see these hoofs, how -admirably adapted they are for tearing their prey, much better than -knives and forks, when they, under the influence of a certain impulse -or instinct, or whatso'name, roam about the wilds looking after their -eatables. Wonderful, isn't it? Both these animals belong to the class -mammalia; yes--mammalia--a word that signifies that their mothers are -called mammies." - -"You quite enlighten me on the subject," observed Oriel Porphyry, -endeavouring to suppress a laugh. - -"Ay, Sir, I've studied it for a very long length of time," replied his -host. "I know it thoroughly, you may depend upon it. Now, Sir, here is a -fish. Fishes swim, you know, Sir." - -"I was aware of that," remarked Oriel, as gravely as he could. - -"But they don't swim when they're dead, Sir," rejoined the manufacturer, -as if desirous of making his auditors wonder at the extraordinary -fact. "Curious phenomenon--phenomenon? Yes, that's the word--curious -phenomenon that. Well, this fish is dead, and were you to try ever so, -you could not induce it to swim. You will observe that it has scales. -Now the animals we have just examined have no scales. Singular, isn't -it? That peculiarity in its organiza--organi--organ something, which -I have forgot, is a wise provision of nature--a sort of whatsoname to -prevent the fish from getting wet through when exposed to the continual -action of the watery element--yes, of the watery element. So these -scales are very important in its animal economy--ay, animal economy--and -you will remember, as a remarkable coincidence that completely proves -the value of these things, that Justice is always represented with -scales, Isn't it wonderful?" - -"Wonderful!" replied both the young men in a breath. - -"Now this is a reptile, you will observe," said Posthumous, pointing to -a small snake in a glass case. "This has scales, and yet it is not a -fish. Strange, isn't it? Here's the name. It is the _Bipčde cannelé_. -The first word signifies that it's a biped, like man, though it's got -no legs; and the other word denotes that it's found in canals. Here -are some shells: this one is called _Coriocella nigra_, because it -always frequents the cellars of the blacks; and this is the _Velutina -capulöidea_, the first word of which means that it was discovered -by Veluti, a chonchologist--a chonchologist?--yes, a chonchologist, -celebrated in his day for the ardour with which he investigated--I mean -the spirit with which he penetrated--no, that's not it; but, at any -rate, it was a peculiar whatso'name with which he made his researches; -and what the other word implies I am not quite certain; but it appears -by the last syllables to mean some low idea which it isn't worth -inquiring into." - -"And what are these things?" inquired Zabra, looking at a confused mass -of insects lying together in a case. - -"Those are the Chalcididæ," replied the manufacturer, reading from a -paper affixed to it; "a family of hymenopterous insects, which the -heathens made sacred to their god Hymen, because they were very much -given to the marriage state; and this belongs to the section Pupivora, -because they are always found upon puppies. You will observe that they -have wings, and these wings are used for flying. But all insects have -not got wings, consequently some of them cannot fly. Wonderful, isn't -it? As I said before, it is a wise provision of nature to give them a -sort of a facility--a convenience--a thingembob, for the purpose of more -easily transporting them from place to place. Isn't it strange?" - -"What bird is this?" asked Oriel, pointing to a stuffed specimen. - -"Ha! now you will observe another extraordinary thing," exclaimed his -host. "This creature also possesses wings, and yet it is not an insect. -Marvellous coincidence! This is one of the Agami, so called because it -is considered excellent game; and has the scientific name of _Psophia -crepitans_, from its fondness of creeping upon sofas. You observe that -this animal has but two legs: the first animals we noticed had four, -and the fish had none; yet all of them, by that sort of natural a--you -understand, are enabled to go about wherever they like, and indulge -themselves in every kind of--something I don't remember, according to -their individual capacities--their individual capacities?--yes, their -individual capacities. Isn't it wonderful?" - -"And pray what stones are these?" inquired Zabra, directing attention to -two or three large fragments of stone leaning against the wall. - -"They are not stones, but fossils," replied Posthumous, trying to look -amazingly sagacious; "and the difference between a stone and a fossil is -a--the difference between a fossil and a stone. Isn't it strange?" - -"Wonderful!" exclaimed his visitors. - -"You see it is very hard," continued their companion, "and has the -skeleton of an animal long since extinct--extinct? yes, extinct--long -since extinct, plainly marked upon it. It is said that, once upon a -time, long before I can remember, there was a shower of rain came down, -that not only wetted every one to the skin, in spite of their umbrellas, -but actually drowned all the animals in the world, except those--yes, -except those who were not drowned. Well, the poor things when they -were dead couldn't move in the least; and, in course of time, by the -continual deposit of--of whatso'name upon their bodies, they became -squeezed into the earth round about them, and that becoming hard, they -became hard also. Now these are minerals. The earth, you know, is made -like a bread and butter pudding; a layer of bread and butter, then -a layer of currants, and so on; in what are called _strata_--yes, -_strata_, because they're always straight;--and sometimes they find -coal, and sometimes stone, and sometimes clay, and sometimes something -I don't remember, and sometimes something I have forgot; and all these -things are kept together in their proper places by a sort of--you -understand--which holds the world firmly together, so that people may -walk upon it without fear of its tumbling to pieces. Wonderful, isn't -it?" - -In this way Posthumous proceeded describing to his visitors the contents -of his museum. Every object was noticed, and all relating to it he knew, -which appeared at all times more novel than authentic, was minutely -detailed, with a look and a manner marked by self-approbation and -stupidity, that were exceedingly amusing, till the hour arrived for -dinner; when he seemed, with considerable reluctance, to leave its many -attractions, and led the way into a dining-room, which was also crammed -with every species of antiquity he had considered sufficiently valuable -for his collection, where, with a mummy at his feet, and a statue -without a head at his elbow, he did the honours of hospitality, mingling -them with liberal allusions to the benefit he was intent upon doing -posterity. - - - - -CHAP. IV. - -A CONVERSAZIONE. - - -It was evening, and every part of the Posthumous museum was brilliantly -lit up and filled with visitors. The manufacturer gave a conversazione, -and his rooms were filled with some of the most celebrated characters in -the world of wealth, fashion, and literature of Sydney. Some turned over -the leaves of books--others looked through portfolios of prints--some -examined the paintings--and others scrutinised the antiquities--a few -appeared intent upon studying the appearances of the different specimens -of natural history, and others seemed equally desirous of becoming -acquainted with the disposition of their companions. Some in little -circles were arguing upon various subjects, and in a room by themselves -were a more select party enjoying the performance of some excellent -music. Posthumous did not seem on terms of intimacy with many of his -guests, for they passed him with as much indifference as if he was some -one not worthy to be known; but he was remarkably attentive to Oriel and -his companion, describing, as they passed along, the different persons -that crowded his rooms, and only occasionally stopping in his remarks -to exchange a few words with some of his visitors with whom he knew he -might be familiar. - -"You see that person before you in the brown and yellow thingembob, with -a long nose and a remarkable sort of a whatso'name in his appearance," -said Posthumous. The two friends saw who was meant, but did not -recognise him by the description. "There, he's examining that Chinese -idol. He's a clever man--decidedly a clever man. He lived most part of -his life in China, because, he said, the country always suited him to a -T; and has written ever so many books about its geography and use of the -globes, habits, customs, laws, antiquities, and something else I don't -remember. He says their chronolo--chronology?--yes, chronology, that's -the word--he says their chronology is the most ancient in the world; -but I'll be bound to say that there's a more ancient chronology in my -museum, only I can't tell exactly where to lay my hands upon it. But a -very learned writer is Chopstick--very learned. It was he who discovered -that the tea-plant was originally cultivated in England, as he found -there a river called _Tees_, and ascertained that the ancient name of -the people was _Celtæ_, so called from their selling teas. That little -man in the snuff-coloured--you understand, knows more about antiquities -than any body in Australia. It was he who proved so clearly that our -city was originally built by Sir Philip Sydney, an architect who was -very partial to erecting arcades, so much so that he wrote a work about -them called Arcadia, and from him our metropolis has derived its name. -Talking of antiquities, do you know I met in a book the other day -something about a psychological--psychological? yes, that was the -word--something about a psychological curiosity; and although I have -offered any price for a psychological curiosity, I have not been able to -procure one. But let us hear what Dustofages is saying about that piece -of ancient brickwork. It has an inscription upon it which has puzzled me -completely." - -Posthumous and his young visitors approached the table on which rested a -considerable piece of brickwork that had attracted the attention of the -little antiquarian. - -"I am tolerably certain," said Dustofages with a grave face, to a few -anxious students of the art in which he was so famous, that thronged -near him, "I am tolerably certain that this inscription is in the -English language, and from its appearance I should pronounce it to be -cotemporaneous with the Georgian dynasty." - -"Wonderful!" murmured Posthumous. - -"The first three letters are evidently a T, an R, and a Y, which make -the word TRY," continued the antiquarian: "and the letters of the next -word, though nearly obliterated, taken together, form the name -WARRENS--and this ancient inscription, therefore, is 'Try Warrens'--but -what it means I am not so confident. Perhaps this Warrens was a -notorious offender whom the people wished to have tried and punished; -and therefore expressed their wishes in a conspicuous manner, that -the government might notice it, and _try Warrens_: this was a way the -populace then had of making their sentiments known to their rulers as -may be ascertained by an antique fragment in the Australian Museum, on -which is inscribed the words, 'Down with the Whigs!'" - -"Extraordinary!" exclaimed Posthumous. - -"But as in the whole course of my reading I have met with no allusion to -any notorious character of the name of Warrens," continued the little -man, "it is quite as probable that some obscure individual made the -inscription as a sort of memento to attract the attention of his -mistress, expressive of his love and fidelity--he wished her to _try -Warrens_. In the English anthology, from a very ancient poem, I met with -these lines, addressed by a lover to his mistress-- - - "Try me, try me, - Prove ere you deny me"-- - -which proves that lovers were desirous of being tried; and as so many -inscriptions exist in which the ancients showed their attachment to -their females by inscriptions on wood and stone, declaring their wishes, -there can be but little doubt that these words were placed here by some -enamoured youth who was desirous that a particular female, whose name -has not come down to us, should 'Try Warrens.'" - -"Isn't it wonderful?" cried the delighted Posthumous, and without -waiting for an answer hurried his companions to another room. "How do -you do, Bluey?" he exclaimed, addressing a tall thin lady with a bilious -complexion, who appeared to be examining some minerals. - -"Rather say, how does my will do," replied the lady, very gravely; "for -it is my will that does every thing. I must have the will to do, before -the action can be done. If you mean merely to inquire into the state of -the mere animal machine, I must reply, that of the chemical combinations -now in process, the acids overpower the alkalis, and produce an acetous -fermentation in the natural laboratory, that disturbs the sanatory -functions of my particular system, and tends to create new combinations -injurious in their action upon the animal fibre; but as I know that as -a sufficient proportion of the earthy salts, either in carbonates or -sulphates, held in solution, or in any other form that may be most -convenient, operating upon the acids, will counteract their unhealthy -tendency and render them inert, I do not care for the disorder of my -organic substances. It is not of sufficient importance to distract my -attention from the interesting study of chemical affinities." - -"Well, I'm sorry you're so bad," remarked the inquirer, in a tone of -regret. - -"Bad is the antagonist of good," said the lady, sharply; "and I beg to -say that I am not bad. Bad is evil--I am not evil--therefore I am not -bad. Bad is base--I am not base--therefore I am not bad. In fact, bad is -a very unphilosophical term to apply upon such an occasion. You should -have said that you regretted that there should exist any chemical -combinations in my system of natural processes that support life, which -are not characteristic of a state of health." - -"At any rate, I hope you will soon get better," responded her host. - -"Better is worse than bad," replied his guest with additional severity. -"To be better, implies an antecedent state of badness, and I tell you -again I am not bad, I have not been bad, and I do not intend to be bad." - -"Well, good bye--good bye," he exclaimed, attempting to hurry away. - -"There is no sense in the phrase 'good bye;' it means nothing," said the -lady hastily: "it is an abbreviation of 'good be with you.' Now, if you -mean to say that I am good, I deny it. I deny that I am either good or -bad; good and bad being qualities not existing in the object, for what -appears good to one may seem bad to another; but they arise in the idea -of the individual." - -Posthumous and his companions were glad when they were out of hearing of -the lady, whose metaphysics and chemistry they could not appreciate in -the way she desired. - -"Ah, do you see that tall man behind his whiskers?" inquired the -manufacturer, pointing to a person who answered to such a description. -"He has got a very remarkable, stately sort of whatso'name, hasn't he? -He's a member of the government, a great patron of literature and -science, and--and something I forget. He's been known to spend as much -as sixpence a week in the cheap publications; and many a miserable -starving author, who has sent him his works, he has actually enriched -with his good wishes. Great patron, isn't he? The person he's talking to -in the beautiful head of hair, is a political writer on the ministerial -side, who has a wonderful, incomprehensible--a--you understand, that's -very delightful. He writes about the glorious constitution, our -admirable government, and--and something with a fine name I don't -remember, in a style that's absolutely, completely, and downright -thingembob. That lady, that seems to be looking after her youth and -beauty, is the authoress of a work which has been very popular, called, -'The whole Duty of Man,' which is filled with long chapters upon short -commons or fasting, praying, sneezing, the cultivation of carrots and -virtue, the bringing up children and mustard and cress, and directions -about paying bills and visits. The young man, trying to admire himself -in the glass, is a novelist famous for the splendour of his imaginative -conceptions--yes, of his imaginative conceptions. His books are like the -rooms of a dealer in fashionable furniture; or-molu and mother-of-pearl, -rosewood and ivory, buhl and something I forget, meet one in every page; -and he writes about gold, and silver, and precious stones, as if he had -been an apprentice to a jeweller. Then his stories are always celebrated -for a certain pathetic whatso'name, which is much admired. Now let us go -into the music room." - -The three associates passed through the crowd which filled the rooms to -the great danger of the more breakable antiquities, Posthumous stopping -occasionally to talk to one or welcome another, till they arrived in -the music room, where they took some refreshments as they entered. A -beautiful girl was accompanying herself while singing the following -words, to which all seemed to listen with the greatest attention:-- - - The lunar tide began to flow, - The tidal wave moved to and fro, - Bright shone each constellation; - Except where in th' horizon's space - Some planets, with reluctant pace, - Commenced their declination. - - Then Coma unto Stella came, - To show to her his ardent flame, - Apparent in aphelion; - As had been done for many years, - In their peculiar hemispheres, - While placed in perihelion. - - "Ah, Stella!" said the glowing swain, - "My flame to thee I bring again, - In hopes thou wilt absorb it: - My course, eccentric though it be, - Moves near as it may come to thee - In my peculiar orbit." - - "Away!" cried Stella, "come not here; - Go, shine within another sphere, - I feel not thy attraction; - I have beheld thy parallax, - And noticed thy erratic tracks, - Thy action and reaction." - - A cloud on Coma's face appeared, - And when its atmosphere was cleared, - In rapid execution - Of Stella's dark command, he set, - And strove for ever to forget - Her radiant revolution. - -"Beautiful!" cried a dozen voices in a breath, as soon as the song was -concluded. - -"So exquisitely pathetic!" murmured one. - -"So perfectly natural!" exclaimed another. - -"It is admirable; is it not, sir?" said a young lady with a remarkable -pair of languishing eyes, as she directed their eloquent gaze full upon -the handsome face of Oriel Porphyry. - -"No doubt it is, madam, if you think so," replied the merchant's son, -with more politeness than sincerity. - -"Ah! our opinions are the same--the effect of a mutual sympathy. How -charming!" observed the young beauty languidly. "Do you believe in the -theory of mutual sympathies?" - -"I must confess I know nothing about it," acknowledged Oriel. - -"Innocence exemplified!" exclaimed his companion, regarding him with -more evident admiration. "I will explain it to you. There exists in -every human creature in one sex a decided inclination towards some human -creature in the other sex, which is never developed till those two meet -together, and then it immediately becomes manifest. Now suppose, for -example, I possess a certain amicable feeling, which remains perfectly -unknown until I meet with you for the first time, when an immediate -consciousness tells me that my sympathy is excited." - -"Wonderful, isn't it?" said Posthumous. - -Oriel was at a loss what to reply; but Zabra's dark eyes appeared -flashing with indignation. - -"Now, these sympathies ought to be indulged; or why are they created?" -asked the fair sophist. "If we observe nature, which is always the best -guide, we shall find all her impulses followed out to their purpose, to -the great increase of the pleasures of the individual. Nature never can -be wrong; therefore, if we follow nature, we shall always be right." - -"Exactly so!" responded the manufacturer. "I remember seeing a puppy -running after his own tail, and he was delighted at the fun. Yes, follow -nature, certainly." - -Oriel Porphyry with great difficulty refrained from laughing. Zabra, on -the contrary, looked upon the young lady with an expression of scorn -that made his countenance appear darker than ever. - -"It was a conviction of the truth of this theory that made me write my -work on the philosophy of mutual communion," continued their companion, -"where you will find proved, by arguments that cannot be confuted, that -there is no happiness in the world except in love--that love is this -mutual sympathy between two individuals of the two sexes--and that this -sympathy should invariably be indulged as often as it exists." - -"Well, I have always had something of the same notion about love," -remarked Posthumous, gravely. "I consider love to be a sort of a very -beautiful, interesting--a--you understand, in one person, for a -peculiar, charming, delightful--a--whatsoname in another." - -"I should imagine, from what I have observed, that the true nature -of love is perfectly unknown to either of you," observed Zabra, with -some asperity; "it only dwells in the breasts of those whose qualities -assimilate with its own. It is the principle of truth, of purity, and -of excellence; and whomsoever it touches it makes true, and pure, and -excellent in the eyes of the lover. There is wisdom in it; for wisdom -is ever an emanation of truth. There is beauty in it; for beauty is the -essential spirit of purity. And there is in it an omnipotent power; for -in excellence will always be found the greatest degree of greatness. -Love, being true, enlightens; being pure, sanctifies; and being -excellent, strengthens all by whom it is possessed. It is a virtue from -which all virtues proceed. It is the nobility of nature. It is the -humanity of life. Without it the sun would be black, and the heavens a -void; a strife would be among all things, and a devouring death consume -the universe. With it the power of a perfecting will fills the glad -heart; and in whatever corner of the earth there breathes the principle -of existence, love will enter into its most secret depths; infuse into -them a purpose hitherto unknown; fill them with a power to suffer and -to conquer that cannot be set aside, and render the individual, the -atmosphere he inhales, and all things he sees, touches, or hears, the -receptacle of a perfect felicity, that endures even unto the very -threshold of oblivion. It is this feeling, and this feeling alone, that -has created whatever is admirable around us; we admire, because we love; -and we love, only to produce a continuation of the qualities we have -admired." - -Oriel regarded the animated countenance of his youthful companion with -his usual affection. The young lady gazed upon his beautiful features -with apparently more sympathy than his friend had excited; and -Posthumous opened his mouth, rubbed his eyes, and stared, and looked all -the wonder and admiration his foolish face was capable of expressing; -and when he did find language, which was not for some minutes after the -speaker had concluded, he exclaimed-- - -"Yes, sir, that's exactly what I said. It is nothing in the world more -than a simple, a--something I have forgot, arising entirely in the -organisation of the individual--organisation of the individual?--yes, -organisation of the individual, that produces a peculiar sort of feeling -in the a--whatsoname." - - - - -CHAP. V. - -THE PHILANTHROPIST IN TROUBLE. - - -Oriel Porphyry made a considerable stay in Australia, visiting most of -the principal cities, the manufacturing and agricultural districts, in -fact, whatever part of the country was considered most worthy of notice; -bartering his merchandise, and making purchases of such articles of -traffic as might be advantageously disposed of during his voyage. -Before he left the country he received from his father the following -communication:-- - -"I hope by this time, my dear Oriel, you are completely reconciled to -the way of life I wish you to follow, and I am quite sure that the -longer you live the more cause you will have to rejoice at pursuing -a path so honourable. Every day I exist, I the more fervently -congratulate myself upon having forsaken the deceitful splendour of a -false ambition, for wherever I look around among those who belong to -that undeservedly honoured section of society I was forced to leave in -disgust, I observe so much of envy, inquietude, pride, folly, hatred, -ignorance, ambition, and tyranny, I wonder that such things the -prejudices of custom can regard with homage. I see the title of majesty -applied to an individual who is the very reverse of majestic; his -highness is diminutive; his grace awkward; a fellow, though he be a -notorious cheat, may still be a nobleman; and however unworthy or -ignorant be a person of rank, he is allowed to take precedence of -virtue, of intellect, and of every species of human excellence, -undistinguished by the title he possesses. I do not mean to assert that -a man is in any way the worse for having this sort of distinction, for I -have found many real noble men among our aristocracy; what I maintain -is, that they are in no way exalted by it. And when I compare the good -effected by this class with the good effected by those who do not -belong to it, the disproportion is so immense that I must always call -in question the advantage of maintaining a section of society in an -acknowledged state of superiority to the rest, who, to the rest, are of -so little utility. - -"The next thing to be considered is--are they a happier race of -individuals than those whom they think beneath them? Most of them are in -the enjoyment of many luxuries; but luxury and happiness are far from -being synonymous: and when we come to look into the artificial state of -life in which these people exist, and notice their exclusiveness, their -rivalries, their ostentatious splendour, and their prodigal meannesses, -we can afford them only a low place on the scale of happiness--one -certainly much beneath that possessed by persons whom they are in the -habit of thinking their inferiors. Yet this is the sort of greatness, -Oriel, you seemed so desirous of possessing. That desire, I hope, has -given place to better and nobler aspirations. There is a wider field now -open to you; from which the landscape shows every attraction which ought -to allure you forward. Go on, Oriel, go on and prosper. Let me see you -a philanthropist, and I shall die content. - -"There have been some stirring doings in Columbia since you left the -country. Our rulers seem desperately intent upon working their own -destruction. I regret this. I regret it for the sake of these -inconsiderate men--I regret it more for the sake of the community at -large, who, if they are driven into open opposition and strife, and -bloodshed ensue, must be the immediate sufferers. Public meetings have -been held in various parts of the empire, particularly in the northern -provinces, and resolutions reflecting very strongly upon the ministers -have been agreed to in the presence of immense multitudes of the people. -Some disturbances have taken place, which were put down only at the -sacrifice of several lives, and many of the most influential of the -public prints, notwithstanding the ruinous prosecutions, fines, and -imprisonments, with which all who advocated the cause of the people -are punished, denounced the measures of the government in a very bold -tone. The meetings in the metropolis were equally important, and their -proceedings were conducted with a similar degree of energy. - -"As the highest municipal officer--as a legislator of considerable -experience, independent of my reputation as a private individual, I -naturally enjoyed much influence among my fellow-citizens. They looked -up to me for advice, and were always anxious for my countenance. It was -with great uneasiness that I observed the mischievous policy pursued by -the Emperor's advisers. I saw that its tendency was to fill the hearts -of the people with a spirit of resistance, that must eventually lead to -a fierce and relentless civil war, that might deluge the country with -blood, and destroy its prosperity by the withering blast of flame and -the sword. What to do in this fearful crisis was not a subject to be -dismissed without deep reflection. To its consideration I gave anxious -days and sleepless nights. I knew that, if the existing feeling -continued, a struggle would commence that could not easily be stopped; -it would continue while there was hope on one side, and power on the -other; and to the true patriot there can be nothing so horrible as the -prospect of a savage warfare around him, in which the children of the -same soil must be set to slaughter one another. On the other hand, it -was equally evident that, if the government were allowed to carry on -their despotic proceedings, every citizen would be obliged to give up -the privilege of his manhood, and become a slave; and I had so much of -the mighty impulses of freedom in my nature as would not allow me to -look tamely on, while the chains were riveting around my subjected -country. - -"I saw that there was but one way to secure my fellow-countrymen -from the approaching degradation without having recourse to deeds of -violence. From my place in the legislature I continually described the -alarming state of the empire, and foretold the fearful consequences -which must result if ministers proceeded in the course they were -pursuing. With all the eloquence of which I was master, I implored them -to desist. I entreated that the obnoxious measures might be abandoned, -and offered to become security for the immediate return of the public -tranquillity if the desire I expressed was complied with. At the same -time, whenever I was called upon to direct or attend a popular assembly, -which was almost daily, I strongly advised the propriety of refraining -from violence. I recommended continual public meetings, in which the -voice of the nation might be spoken without intemperance; and that the -ministers might be made sufficiently aware of the state of opinion, I -advocated the policy of petitioning the legislature for redress, in firm -but respectful language, throughout every part of the united empire. -The government paid no attention to my labours. I was listened to with -inattention, and my arguments were treated with disdain. Proud in the -use of a slavish and corrupt majority, proud in the exercise of a power -they wished to render irresponsible, and proud in the possession of -an immense standing army, whose services they retained by profligate -expenditure of the public money, they attempted to stifle the voice of -opinion, by constant endeavours to prevent the meetings of the people, -and by treating their petitions with studied contempt. - -"The effect these proceedings had upon me I leave you to imagine. I -never could have supposed any set of men could have been found so -indifferent to their own interests. But the emperor resolved to render -his power absolute, and his advisers had urged the necessity of pursuing -what they called strong measures, arguing that, if they stopped now at -the clamour that had been raised, it would be impossible for them to -resume their measures at any future time. In vain I preached patience -and resignation, peace and temperance. Prosecutions and persecutions -were going on in every direction. The presses that laboured to diffuse -among the people a knowledge of their true situation were seized and -destroyed, and the persons connected with them were incarcerated -in dungeons; private dwellings were invaded, on the most frivolous -pretexts, in search of imaginary conspiracies, and their inmates were -subjected to every kind of indignity--mulcted in heavy penalties, or -carried off from their homes and never more heard of; spies appeared to -lurk in every house; and no sooner was a public meeting announced than -measures were taken to prevent its being held, by filling the place with -heavily armed troops. My anxiety grew more intense every day. I saw the -storm must burst; I knew that the strife must begin; and when I beheld -the almost countless masses of military that filled the country, ready -to act on the first emergency, and knew that they would oppose men -undisciplined and imperfectly armed, I shuddered at the mere -anticipation of the consequences. - -"Among those who took a part with me in opposing, in a constitutional -manner, the proceedings of the government, might be found many of the -most enlightened, the most admirable, and the most wealthy men in the -empire; men whose characters were unimpeachable, and whose property -formed an important stake in the country; and they were earnest in their -philanthropy, and sincere in their patriotism. They agreed with me in -opinion that peace ought to be preserved till they were absolutely -forced to take up arms. But there were others amongst us, young and -headstrong politicians, or crafty and deceitful spies, who appeared most -anxious to provoke an immediate collision. That the strife was about to -commence was the general impression, for many provided themselves with -arms, and others endeavoured to secure their property. This state of -things continued from day to day, creating the most tyrannical laws, and -making the indignation more general. All expected a blow to be struck; -but having no acknowledged leader, and no settled plan of action, none -were ready to strike. At last, as a final resource, I thought of once -more calling a public meeting; and to avoid its being prevented by the -government, as others had been, it was kept secret among known friends -till the last moment, when each communicated it to a separate circle -with such excellent effect, that the assembly was one of the most -crowded that had ever been held. - -"It was my duty to open the business of the day. Much as I feared -the coming warfare, knowing that success could only be gained at the -expense of incalculable misery and suffering, I felt the painful truth -that the end justified the means, and endeavoured to prepare myself, -as well as my excited feelings would allow me, to take my share in the -approaching struggle. I abhor bloodshed; from my heart and soul I loathe -it. I would have sacrificed myself willingly to obtain justice for my -fellow-citizens; but justice seemed a thing only to be procured by -force. I addressed the meeting. I felt that the labours of a long life, -endured to create a more general happiness, were about to be risked in a -strife of brother against brother. All that I had endeavoured to avoid -would now become unavoidable--the reign of discord would commence--the -wounds I had healed would break out afresh--the good I had done would be -turned to evil--the felicity I had created would end in wretchedness. -With these convictions of the mind, the sympathies of the heart may -easily be imagined. I at first addressed the meeting as if mourning at -the funeral of my own hopes. I related all that had been endured, and -the eyes of my attentive auditors seemed to burn with indignation, and -their brows scowled with resentment. I described the patience with -which all had been endured, and their looks were restless and gloomy. I -detailed every instance of contempt with which that patience had been -regarded, and the breasts of the strong men heaved with passion, and -their glances were stern and fierce. I told them how much I lamented the -blindness and obstinacy of their rulers, and showed them the deep and -just cause I had for that regret; but having stated that all had been -attempted that the most patriotic philanthropist could have suggested to -escape unshackled from the evils with which we were threatened, I told -them that nothing now was to be done to preserve our liberties but to -maintain them by force of arms. Twenty thousand eager voices, joining in -one continued cheer, testified their readiness to follow the suggestion. -'A long life has been devoted to your service,' said I, 'whose greatest -pleasure has been created by the pleasures it has been enabled to -diffuse. I would much rather that the life had been prolonged to -continue its enjoyment in the same gladdening labour; but our rulers -have willed it otherwise. I cannot end my existence as hitherto it has -proceeded--not in the sweet indulgence of my friendly feelings towards -my species--not in the observance of the tranquil bliss they have -produced. No matter! I have ever been devoted to your service; my life -must end in pursuing the same duty. I will stand by you in the struggle -you must now commence; and all the power and wealth and influence I -possess shall aid you in obtaining its successful issue.' Cheers rent -the air--such cheers as, if they had heard them, and seen the immense -multitude from whom they proceeded, emulating each other in the -expression of their grateful enthusiasm, would have made our ministers -glad on any terms to undo the mischievous work they had executed. - -"Many influential persons spoke to the same effect; and it was agreed -that as large a body of men as could be got together should go to the -emperor's palace, and desire the instant abrogation of the unpopular -edicts. If they met with force, it was to be resisted; and as soon as -the struggle became inevitable, the bells of the different churches were -to be rung to arms, and a simultaneous attack made on all the military -positions, so as to prevent the troops leaving their barracks while the -emperor's palace was stormed. This plan was no sooner agreed upon -than it was resolved to be put in immediate execution, to prevent -the government taking measures to prevent its success; and a general -rendezvous having been appointed, every man left the meeting with -the intention of preparing himself for the fray. I had returned home, -melancholy, I must acknowledge; for I could not reflect upon the dangers -to which the mass of my fellow-citizens would soon be exposed without -feelings of the deepest anguish; and I had scarcely crossed my own -threshold before I saw that the place was filled and surrounded by armed -men, by whom I was immediately seized, treated with every indignity, -dragged through the streets to a dungeon, and, after having been loaded -with heavy chains, there left to the contemplation of darkness and -filth. - -"The promptness and secrecy of my seizure I had not expected, or I -should have been prepared for resistance; and now I had but little hope -of ever being of the slightest service to any individual; for if my -friends succeeded in their exertions, they knew not the place where I -was confined, and were not likely during my existence to discover it, -so that my prospect was but a cheerless one. It was some hours before I -could distinguish with any accuracy the features of my prison. At last, -when my eyes got used to the darkness, I noticed that it was a narrow -cell, built of huge masses of stone. On one side, at the top, was a -small grating of iron, through which sufficient light entered to make -the darkness evident. The door was of iron, and it opened inwardly. The -floor was of stone, damp and cold. It was about seven feet by five in -size, and about ten feet in height. The place seemed never to have been -cleansed: it was fouled with every abomination, and vermin, toads, and -other loathsome objects abounded within its walls. Disgusting as such a -place must be to one used to comfort and convenience, I began to grow -careless of its horrors, and thought only of the effect my incarceration -would have upon my fellow-citizens. It was not so secretly done as to -prevent all knowledge of the transaction, and the few to whom it was -known, I knew would lose no time in making their intelligence public. -There would then, I felt convinced, commence a desperate struggle; and -which ever side had the victory, it could not be gained but at the -expense of a degree of human suffering, the imagination of which filled -me with pain and fear. - -"While engaged in these thoughts, I heard footsteps approaching--they -stopped at the door--the strong bolts were undrawn, and a man, muffled -up in a large cloak and high slouched hat, entered the cell. He stopped -before me. I thought he was going to put me to death. I could see -nothing of his face but two large dark eyes glaring upon me with a -malignity I should have thought it impossible any human being could -feel. He spoke, and I knew the voice. It was Philadelphia. - -"'So ho, old plotter of treason!' he exclaimed exultingly, 'you are now -in safe keeping, I think. Nothing would serve your plebeian soul but to -hatch rebellion. You could leave your beggarly buying and selling to -plot the overthrow of the state. You thought, doubtless, it would be an -easy matter to exterminate the power of the government, and felt assured -you should have but little difficulty in seating yourself upon the -throne of the Emperor. Ha ha! A fine plot truly: and a most admirable -successor you would make to our gracious monarch. But I had due notice -of your infamous designs. I have watched you long, old traitor! and only -waited an opportunity for putting an end to your ambitious career. The -object I sought is accomplished. How like you this dungeon? it is not -exactly the palace you expected. And these chains, they are not so -comfortable as the robe of state with which you imagined your vulgar -limbs would be adorned?' - -"Truly the dungeon is not agreeable, and the chains do feel rather -heavy," said I, mildly. - -"'Be satisfied,' replied he in a tone of mockery; 'you will get used -to them, and they will last your time. I came to gratify myself by -observing how you bore this sudden change in your fortunes. You are -tired of lamenting your miserable fate; you have exhausted your -imprecations upon me and my coadjutors in the government; you--' - -"Common sense forbid that I should curse myself or any one, for it could -do no one any good, and might do myself harm," said I. - -"''Tis all hypocrisy!' exclaimed Philadelphia, 'your heart is now ready -to burst with vexation--your soul is full of hatred--your mind is intent -upon revenge.' - -"Indeed you wrong me," I replied. - -"'No doubt, I do,' he added with a sneer. 'You are very much wronged. -You are quite a martyr to your patriotic intentions. Never was man -so ill used. Perhaps you are not a traitor--possibly you are not a -rebel--it may be you did not treacherously plot the destruction of the -peace of my family, by aiding in the elopement of my daughter.' - -"A traitor I certainly am not--a rebel I am not--and as for your -daughter's elopement, I know no more than public rumour has declared, -which was, that she left your house to avoid a marriage you were -attempting to bring about against her inclinations," I responded. - -"''Tis a lie! 'Tis a low, vulgar, designing lie!' shouted the enraged -noble, as part of his cloak falling from his face disclosed his proud -features distorted by passion. 'You have been scheming to bring about an -alliance between Eureka and your son--a base hound, unfit to breathe in -her presence. Tell me where she is--tell me where you have secreted her; -and wherever she may be, I will tear her limb from limb, rather than -allow her to disgrace herself by any connection with your accursed -family.' - -"I know not her asylum," said I. "But I acknowledge I did wish that our -children should be united." - -"'And how dared you so presume?' fiercely inquired he. 'Could you not -have found among your own vile money-getting crew some fit companion -for your cub, that you must needs think of uniting him with a daughter -of one of the noblest families in the empire? The world is indeed in a -sorry condition if it can tolerate such things. But that you know where -she is concealed I am assured, and I will have the secret out of you, -if torture can force it from your custody. Your nerves shall be racked, -your flesh lacerated; you shall starve, and die, and rot in this hole.' - -"I had been standing before him supporting my chains, as well as I -could, and listening unmoved to his angry speeches; but there now -appeared such a remorseless cruelty in his countenance, that I gazed in -astonishment, almost doubting the possibility that the lamb I had known -could have become so wolfish. To have told him my real name, I plainly -perceived, would only incense him the more. If he hated me at that -moment (and I grieved to think he should regard me with such unsocial -feelings), with such a disposition as he possessed, he would detest me -a thousandfold more, when he knew how much I could injure him. I can -safely say I had no such inclination; and had I been so inclined, which -I gladly affirm was not the case, being so entirely in his power, I saw -that any intimation of such intentions would only have the effect of -hastening my destruction, or of adding to my discomfort; I therefore -still retained my secret. He had folded his arms across his breast, and -was looking sternly upon my face. - -"'Then you will not acquaint me with the place of Eureka's concealment?' -he demanded. - -"'I could not acquaint you with it if I would, for it is unknown to me,' -I replied; 'and this I have already told you.' - -"'I will crush it out of you,' he savagely muttered. 'Think not of ever -being carried alive out of this place. Dream not of rescue. I have taken -care that the swinish mob you were so desirous of leading shall be cut -to pieces by the soldiery wherever they appear in arms. Horse and -foot are ready to act at a moment's notice, and the most destructive -artillery command all the principal streets, and defend every important -building. I defy the whole city; and the first attempt at disturbance -shall be so punished, that the poor deluded fools who are left alive -will be very glad to gain the shelter of their homes. Anticipate no -assistance from that quarter. The short time you have to live will be -passed here, where you can see no human being, and no human being can -see you; where your shrieks cannot be heard, were you to split your -heart in the attempt. Enjoy yourself as you can; prolong your existence -_if_ you can; but, if you are wise, you will strive to escape the death -prepared for you by dashing your traitorous scull against the wall.' -Then fixing on me a threatening scowl, he strode out of the cell. - -"'Who could have supposed this possible?' thought I: how strange it -seemed that the child I had known so innocent, and so affectionate, -should have become so guilty and ferocious a man. _Man!_ it libelled -human nature to call him by the name. He was a mere animal, and the -worst of animals; for he gave himself up to the indulgence of his -passions, and pride and prejudice, and ignorance and cruelty, and all -the tribe of evil influences which arose from an engrossing selfishness, -became the principal ingredients of his nature. How I regretted this! I -never yet saw a human being pursuing a path which led to misery, but I -regretted the blindness that made him so obstinately bent on punishing -himself: for I am quite certain that he who wilfully produces suffering -in another must eventually be made to experience the pain he has -created. No one can erect his own happiness upon so wretched a -foundation, without finding the superstructure give way, till it leave -him grovelling in the very wretchedness upon which he ventured to build. -I therefore regret that he should possess such evil inclinations, as -must make him a scourge to himself and others. - -"Hours passed on; the evening approached; and, not having tasted food -since the morning, I naturally felt desirous of some refreshment. But -no one came near me. I began to listen for approaching footsteps; but I -heard nothing but a confused rumbling sound, which vibrated through -the prison. The desire for food increased during the night. I tried to -sleep; but the inconvenience of my chains, the coldness and filth of the -floor, and a sensation of gnawing at the stomach, made the enjoyment of -sleep impossible. I walked about; but the heavy irons hurt my legs, and -they soon fatigued me too much to be endured. I leaned against the wall -for support, as I began to feel faint and sick. 'Surely,' thought I, -'it is not intended that I should be left here to famish?' I could not -think so ill of any of my fellow creatures as to imagine that they -would designedly allow me to die the lingering and terrible death of -starvation. But no one approached my cell, and it was noon of the second -day. To the pangs of hunger were added the torments of thirst: my tongue -and throat became parched, and my skin dry as a cinder. Still I thought -that my jailors had forgotten me. Towards evening, the sufferings I -experienced were almost unendurable: I had pains in every limb; I felt -weak as a child, and my skin was burning hot. I endeavoured to think of -some plan by which I might draw my attention from the agony I endured; -and fancied that, if I could bring my mind to the contemplation of the -happiness I had been enabled to create, I should forget the worst part -of my sufferings. So I attempted to remember every instance in which I -had fortunately been the means of securing the enjoyments of some fellow -creature; and, going back as far as my memory could trace, I recalled -the recollection of a poor old blind man, whom, when a boy, I had met -sitting on a bank, weeping and moaning, with the dead body of his -faithful dog, the companion and guide of all his travels, in his lap. I -had with me a beautiful spaniel, of which I was particularly fond; and, -when I heard the poor man lamenting, in a tone that melted me to tears, -that the death of his dog had left him helpless and forlorn, I comforted -him as well as I could. I undid the string that was affixed to the dead -animal, and fastened it to the collar of my own little favourite; gave -him all the money I had about me, and promised to bury his old companion -very carefully in a corner of my garden. To say that he was grateful -would be to make use of too weak a term: his delight appeared to me -extraordinary. He wept more than ever; and the fervour of his blessing -is as fresh upon my ear, after the lapse of more than half a century, as -it was when first uttered. From this commencement I proceeded through -a long list of similar remembrances, each accompanied by a thousand -pleasurable associations, till I found myself regardless of the terrible -wants that had so long been preying on my vitals. - -"I had noticed that the only sounds I had heard during my confinement -had seemed gradually to approach the building I inhabited. Louder and -louder they reverberated through the massive walls; and at last I was -enabled to distinguish the deep roar of artillery, that appeared to -shake the prison to its foundations. 'The struggle has commenced,' -thought I: 'blood is flowing like water; the relentless sword is -ploughing its way through the flesh of my fellow-citizens, and thousands -are being shattered and pierced by showers of murderous balls and -shells.' If the words of that fierce man were true, their chances of -success, I knew, could be but slight. 'They are being slaughtered like -sheep,' I cried; and every concussion produced by the report of the -thundering cannon made me shudder with fear. All night the conflict -proceeded. I had sunk exhausted upon the floor. I could remember -nothing; I could think of nothing. I was rapidly sinking into -insensibility, in the early part of the morning, when I became roused by -hearing the uproar of cannon and musketry, and the shouts of infuriated -men, so near, that I was convinced that the people had attacked the -prison. I felt the concussion of the artillery most distinctly, which -sounded as if the besiegers were battering down the walls; and the -continued burst of volleys of musketry was evidence of the spirit with -which the attack was carried on. About an hour passed without the -slightest cessation of the tumult,--and to me it was an age of agonising -suspense,--when the firing slackened; but whether the attacking party -had been beaten off, or had gained possession of the building, I knew -not. Some minutes, which seemed hours, passed; and I thought I could -distinguish voices approaching. In a moment, I heard them distinctly. - -"'Where are you, my benefactor?' shouted one. - -"'Speak to us, my preserver!' cried another. - -"'Porphyry! Porphyry, our friend, we come to your rescue!' exclaimed -a dozen others; and I could hear them traversing the prison in every -direction in search of me. My heart was so full at the kindness of -these good men, that, had my strength been unimpaired, I could not have -uttered a word; and I allowed my deliverers to pass the door without -attempting to communicate to them the place of my concealment. A few -moments passed, and they again approached. My heart beat more rapidly. -I tried to husband all my remaining strength. - -"'Porphyry! Porphyry!' shouted a hundred anxious voices. - -"'Porphyry! Porphyry!' was echoed in every cell. - -"'Here, my friends!' I exclaimed, as loudly as my feebleness would -allow. - -"'That is him!' they all cried. - -"'I know his voice among a thousand,' said one; 'and I am certain it -came from within this chamber.' - -"'Down with the door!' shouted others. - -"In a moment a thousand hammers seemed to be vigorously driven against -the door. The men cheered each other on in the labour: each exerted -all his force; and in a few seconds the heavy bolts were shivered to -splinters, and, with a piercing hurra! a crowd of eager friends burst -into the cell. As soon as they saw my condition, their hearts were -filled with commiseration. - -"'It isn't a place to turn a dog in,' said one, indignantly. - -"'The miscreants!' muttered another. - -"'Look at these terrible chains!' cried a third. - -"'The tyrants!' exclaimed several. - -"'Let us carry him from this miserable hole; he is too weak to move,' -said a man whom I had befriended. - -"'I will bear a hand: he rescued me from a prison!' exclaimed one. - -"'And I: he saved me from ruin,' shouted another. And by these grateful -creatures I was carefully carried into the open air, with my chains -still about me, and in the wretched plight in which I had been found; -where, on being shown to the multitudes of armed citizens that thronged -the streets, I was received with shouts of triumph mingled with -imprecations on my oppressors; and, accompanied by an escort of a -hundred thousand men, I was conveyed in safety to my own house; my -chains were taken off; and the most skilful physicians being immediately -in attendance, I rapidly recovered to my usual state of health. - -"I ascertained that, as soon as my seizure became known, the church -bells were rung to arms, the stones in the streets were torn up, and -barricades, which served to block up the thoroughfare from the advance -of horse, and as intrenchments from which a galling fire could be poured -upon the approaching troops, were formed across the streets. The first -day, although there was great slaughter on both sides, no important -advantage was gained by either party; and at night the soldiery remained -under arms, and the people were busily employed in preparing to renew -the conflict. Leaders were appointed of tens, of hundreds, and of -thousands; and the grand point of attack was the arsenal and the -ammunition magazines; while, at the same time, the military were kept -sufficiently employed at all the posts they occupied. After a most -obstinate resistance, the arsenal was carried; and the arms there found -soon obtained owners willing to use them. Ammunition was acquired in -a similar manner; and the result of these attacks gave to the popular -cause a vast accession of strength. The barracks of the military, and -the prison in which political offenders were incarcerated, were next -sought out. The object of the attack on the former was to harass the -soldiery as much as possible; and the aim of the latter was to find -out my concealment, for the purpose of effecting my liberation. It was -impossible to exceed the enthusiasm of the people when approaching the -places where they imagined I was confined. They shouted my name, and -rushed through the thickest fire with a valour that nothing could -resist. Many of the prisons were pulled down after a fruitless search -for the object they sought; and then they proceeded from these to -others, till the day was spent. It was found impossible to approach the -palace, as a chain of posts was established all round it, supported by -an immense strength of artillery and powerful bodies of horse and foot, -from which the citizens had been several times repulsed during the day; -but at night, when the tired soldiery were endeavouring to snatch -that repose which two days' constant fighting rendered necessary, a -simultaneous attack was made at every available point by a countless -myriad of armed citizens; and, although they obtained possession of many -pieces of cannon, after fighting desperately till daybreak, they found -themselves compelled to retreat, with very considerable loss. After -this, it was resolved to draw a line of strong intrenchments round this -chain of posts, so as to prevent any communication or supplies reaching -them from other parts of the city, or from the surrounding country, and -then to crush in detail the resistance that might be offered at other -positions; and this plan was being put in practice when my concealment -was discovered, and I was set at liberty. - -"The knowledge of the treatment I had received, while it inflamed the -hearts of my countrymen, created for me even a more powerful sympathy -than I had previously excited. As soon as I was able to attend to what -was going forward, the leading men of the movement waited upon me, and -communicated all that had transpired since my imprisonment; and, after -assuring me that the enemy must surrender in a few days, or, if they -moved from their position, be cut to pieces, they stated that they -were commissioned by the people to offer me the chief authority of the -nation, under whatever name or character I should judge most beneficial -to the state. I need scarcely add that I refused the flattering gift. -I did more; I told them the many attempts the late Emperor had made to -force on me his distinctions, and their result. I told them that my -object had been to live as a private individual, endeavouring to effect -among my fellow men as much good as I had the power to create; that -I had lived happily as one of themselves, and, as one of themselves, -I wished happily to die. I told them that, as far as my advice and -assistance could tend to their advantage, they might always command -them. I endeavoured to prove to them the danger of changing the form -of government, without being prepared with a better; and strived to -convince them that it was much more to the interest of humanity, and to -the advantage of the citizens, not to drive to desperation the powerful -army still remaining, to which they were opposed; but, with the -superiority they possessed, to attempt to bring about an adjustment of -the quarrel between the government and the people, on such terms as -should leave the latter nothing to desire, and the former no power to -tyrannise. - -"My suggestions were not received with the cordiality which they -deserved. The deputation talked of the merciless slaughter of the -citizens--the cruelty that had been exercised upon me--and the necessity -of making an example of the offenders. I answered, that it would only -be treading in the steps of our oppressors by desiring vengeance for -injuries--that those who had been wronged could receive no benefit by -the death of those who had injured them--that the evils the government -had committed could not be remedied by their destruction--and that -it was the most unwise policy a community could follow, to punish -an offence that had been committed by taking a life, for it made it -impossible that the offender should ever make amends to society for the -mischief done. 'Prevent as effectively as possible,' said I, 'the evil -doer from repeating a wrong, and let him, by the exercise of virtuous -inclinations among the community, outweigh the evil he has effected, -and you will do more good than has been done by punishment since the -creation of the world.' - -"I regretted to observe a disinclination to follow my advice. The hearts -of my companions seemed filled with resentment, and their minds with -prejudice. Again they pressed on me the offers of the people, and again -I refused; and then they took their leave of me, expressing their -intention of acquainting the citizens with my resolution. I was most -anxiously desirous that the warfare should terminate; and, knowing that -the time was opportune for exacting the most favourable conditions -for the nation from the government, I was eager to bring about an -accommodation. The mass of my countrymen I found too much heated by -the conflict to listen with a proper feeling to the peaceful measures -it was my aim to accomplish. Arms were still in their hands, and the -blood of their friends still stained the public streets. I published my -sentiments among them in the most convincing form of which I was master; -and, in addition to the opinions I have already stated, I offered, if -they would intrust me with the office, to act as mediator, having -powers to effect an arrangement between the contending parties on such -conditions as would secure the liberties of the people on the most firm -and enlarged basis, and reduce the influence of the crown to an extent -which would not be dangerous to the community. - -"Five days had elapsed since the contest commenced; and the troops were -hemmed in around the palace, deprived of sufficient provisions, and -harassed in every way that the valour and ingenuity of the citizens -could devise. The ministers had now become as humble as they had before -been intolerant. They attempted to bring about a reconciliation. They -offered largely, and promised more. There they were, in the midst of -sixty thousand picked men, trembling for the consequences of their own -misgovernment; for they saw that the whole country was in the hands of -the citizens, and that it would be impossible much longer to continue a -resistance. Hitherto all their efforts at accommodation had been treated -with studied indifference; but, having succeeded in procuring from the -people the office I desired, I immediately set about communicating with -the government the only terms upon which peace could be restored; and -these were, that the ministers by whom the Emperor had been advised in -his late measures should be banished from the court--never again to -exert any authority over the people--and that half their estates should -be confiscated to the relations of those who had perished in the -conflict--that the Emperor should grant a charter to the people, by -which all the privileges of freemen--right of opinion--liberty of -conscience--a perfect representation of the popular will--unshackled -trade--a liberal patronage of genius and industry--and the abolition of -oppressive taxes and undeserved pensions should be preserved to them -and their posterity for ever--that a standing army, beyond what was -necessary to maintain security from foreign invasion, should no longer -exist--and that no attempt should be made by the Crown either to punish -any citizen who had assisted in the late struggle, or to repossess -itself of the power which had been found so dangerous to the welfare of -the people. - -"I suppose these conditions seemed hard; for some days elapsed, and -frequent attempts were made to have them rendered more agreeable. Not -only did I refuse to alter them in the slightest degree, but I at last -gave them four and twenty hours for consideration, at which time, if -they were not accepted, I stated that I should insist upon unconditional -surrender. Before the day was over, the conditions were agreed to--the -charter signed and sworn to by the Emperor, in the presence of an almost -countless multitude of citizens--the ministers, among whom, of course, -was that unpitying man, Philadelphia, were banished from the city; -half their estates were confiscated, and a new and more liberal -administration chosen in their place--and, as the intelligence extended -from one end of this mighty empire to the other, nothing was heard but -sounds of congratulation and gladness, of thankfulness for the past, and -hope for the future. All that I had desired was accomplished. The marks -of the recent strife were soon erased. The citizens, returning to their -social duties, ceased to think of the wounds they had received and -inflicted; and all the blessings of peace began to flow in their -accustomed channels. Had the struggle continued with the design of -overpowering all opposition, and changing the form of government, the -war would have been resumed in the provinces; might have been prolonged -from father to son in efforts to restore the fallen dynasty; and, as a -change, when attempted in a settled form of government, always produces -an unsettled state of the public mind, the country would have been -continually disturbed, and the happiness of the people rendered -exceedingly insecure. - -"All Columbia are satisfied with my exertions: they acknowledge the -worth of what I have done. Even the Emperor seems desirous of paying me -attention; and, although I have not much faith in his sincerity, his -conduct serves to keep up the harmony which prevails. And, by my refusal -to accept power at the expense of the happiness of my fellow-citizens, I -have now the gratification of seeing the country prosperous, the people -enjoying a greater degree of liberty than they have known for centuries, -and the whole population vying with each other to show their estimation -of my services. There is one thing that gives me peculiar satisfaction; -and that is, your absence from the country at this eventful period. I -know that, had you been here, your impetuous spirit would have hurried -you into every wild and rash undertaking, and that you would have -effected more mischief in a day than I should ever have been enabled to -efface. Proceed with your voyage, Oriel, and when you return you will -have reason to rejoice at the change which has been produced during your -absence." - -Oriel Porphyry had read the preceding communication with intense -interest; every moment stopping to regret that he should have been so -far away at a period so important. - -"Oh, had I but been there!" he exclaimed at the conclusion. "Here is a -golden opportunity lost! The very moment for which I have so anxiously -looked has escaped me. The great battle has been fought, and I not in -the field. Surely, such a disappointment is enough to make one curse -one's destiny. My father's notions are too chimerical. He is good--ay, -the very best among the good; but his spirit is not young enough for the -age. He should have crushed the hydra when he had it at his feet. Had -I but been there! He will find, too late, that it is no use patching -things that are radically bad: they cannot be mended; they are worn -out, rotten, and useless. And that proud tyrant to have used him so -inhumanly! Had I but been there! What a field there was for exertion, -what splendid opportunities for daring valour! Perhaps a body of two -hundred thousand armed citizens, all eager, all desperate, wanting only -a leader to make them irresistible. Oh, this wretched fate, that kept me -here like an inactive slave, while glory is to be won by a mere effort! -And he was offered the supreme authority, and refused it? Noble, but -unwise. He could confer more good on the people in a year than this -thing, called an Emperor, can effect during the whole of his useless -existence. Now the time is gone. The renown after which I yearn, the -distinction and the power, would have been mine, had I been in the place -where it might have been acquired. Had I but been there! How long am -I to carry on this profitless existence? How long must I be forced to -stifle my own energies, and live, from day to day, in the same dull -round of inactivity? Must the wings of that spirit, that soars so far -above the unambitious herd, still continue to be pinioned, leaving me -to crawl upon the earth, following out the same ignoble purposes as -those around me? Oh, deplorable fate! The rock to which Prometheus was -chained, and the bird that pierced his vitals, are but types of the -barrenness of my prospects, and the disappointed hopes that prey upon my -peace. Oh, wretched destiny! The thirst with which Tantalus was devoured -was a blessing, compared with the curse with which I am tormented. -Eureka! Eureka! The greatness I have desired so earnestly, to make me -more worthy of your excellence, has been waiting for my eager grasp, -while I was far, far from its reach. Oh, had I but been there!" - - - - -CHAP. VI. - -CHINA, ITS LAWS, CUSTOMS, AND PEOPLE. - - -The Albatross was just entering the Chinese sea, and making way in -gallant style through the heavy waves. Her crew were numerous, and of -picked men, chosen at the different ports at which the ship had touched -since her departure from the pirates' haunt on the Madagascar coast, by -the experienced judgment of Captain Hearty. Several promotions had taken -place among the old hands. Climberkin, who had distinguished himself on -many occasions as a brave and skilful seaman, became second in command. -Boggle, though liable to confuse his understanding with abstract -speculations, was always to be depended upon in an emergency, and was -honest, persevering, and well acquainted with the management of a -ship at sea, and he was made second lieutenant. Loop was created a -midshipman. Oriel Porphyry had offered to settle Ardent in comfortable -circumstances in his native country; but he stated that having lost all -that made dear to him the land of his birth, and having found so many -kind friends on board the Albatross, he should prefer remaining in the -vessel in any capacity in which he could be of service, and as he was -known to be well qualified for the office, to him were assigned the -duties of purser and captain's clerk. As for Roly Poly, the offer of an -empire would not have induced him to resign the custody of the roast and -boiled; and he therefore continued absolute and undisputed sovereign -of the cook-house. He seemed to be getting fatter every day. His back -appeared to bend beneath the load of flesh it carried, and his huge -black cheeks had become so large as to threaten to close up his eyes. To -gain his good opinion, nothing was necessary but to praise his cookery; -but as soon as any poor fellow attempted to find fault with the viands, -or the way in which they were dressed, the abuse he received for what -was considered his presumption and ignorance, made him glad to make his -peace with the indignant cook upon any terms. For all this Roly Poly -was held in much estimation by his shipmates. The important service he -rendered with his mop was not forgotten; and though he was continually -relating in a manner peculiarly his own, the way in which he had -served out "dat ignorant jackmorass who sulted him by telling diclus -impossumbilities," the story was invariably received with the same -hearty laugh and boisterous praise that marked the first hearing. - -Although the manners of Captain Hearty and his officers were rather -unpolished, the education which was common to all Columbians, and the -experience they had gained in their profession, made them perfectly -qualified to fulfil the duties they had undertaken; and the ship was -as skilfully navigated, as if under the superintendence of the most -gentlemanly officers in the service. As has before been stated, the -commercial character of the Albatross had been changed by skilful hands -for one of a more threatening aspect, nor was the alteration at all -displeasing to the taste of Oriel. The only pleasure he seemed to enjoy -with any zest, was in seeing the men exercised at the guns, practising -at a mark, or engaged in improving themselves in the use of the -broadsword; and in these pursuits he would join with intense interest, -encouraging those who seemed anxious to excel, and rewarding those who -evinced the most skill. His satisfaction at the arming of the vessel -was increased when he considered the possibility of being attacked -by pirates in the different seas that lay in the ship's course, who -might easily, as Captain Death and his associates had done, have made -themselves masters of the Albatross; but who would now find it a matter -very difficult to be accomplished. - -"Come Zabra, I am plagued to death by my own thoughts. Cheer me with a -song:" said Oriel Porphyry to his young friend as they sat together in -the cabin. - -"That you shall have, Oriel," replied the handsome musician, as his hand -ran lightly over the chords of the harp; "and I will try to humour your -martial feelings to keep you in good temper with yourself. Listen to - - -"THE SONG OF THE HERO TO HIS SWORD. - - "'FOE SMITER! To the light thy blade I draw, - To gaze enraptured on thy glitt'ring sheen: - I see thee still, thou gem without a flaw! - Sharp, strong, and shining, as thou'st ever been - Since that proud day when first the spoilers came, - Reddening my own fair land with blood and flame, - With vig'rous arm I pluck'd thee from thy sheath, - And made thee drink the crimson draught of death! - - "'DEATH DEALER! Here I have thee once again! - I see thy fatal lightning flashing near, - As round me rise the spirits of the slain, - And the dark shadows, shudd'ring, disappear. - Who ever stood unscathed before thy path? - Who ever lived to babble of thy wrath? - Annihilation must thy deeds proclaim, - And conquest grant thy memory to fame! - - "'FAME WINNER! Let me grasp thee firmer yet; - New fields are to be fought, new foes to dare; - I must have glory ere the sun hath set; - I yearn new triumphs, noble spoils to share. - See where th' insulting enemy advance! - And as they come, with dark and scornful glance, - Waving thy brilliant steel I seek the fray, - And pierce the quiv'ring flesh that stops my way!'" - -"By all that's glorious, 'tis a noble strain!" exclaimed Oriel, while -his brilliant eyes flashed with excitement; "a strain fit to stir the -heart to noble deeds. I feel my soul thrilled with an heroic spirit that -would do battle even with the fierce enemy--Death! Give me a fair field -and a good cause--a band of warlike brothers moved by the same mighty -impulse as that by which I am now excited--and let us have fit weapons -and enough of them, and we would sweep the oppressors of the world from -the earth, like rotten reeds before a whirlwind. Wisely did the ancients -honour their bards above all human greatness. Well was it that they -gave them precedence and dignity and wealth in abundance--the gold -chain round the neck, and the seat of honour near the throne. If they -possessed but the power you have evinced, they were worthy of the first -place and the richest gifts: for they must have been the leading spirits -of the age--the movers of armies--the winners of triumph. What nature, -with the common energies of manhood, could resist such a stimulus? -Stone walls, the crushing iron, and the penetrating steel--would these -be as obstacles in its way? Straws! Had I lived in those days, the -leader of a warlike generation, and heard a song such as you have sung, -I should have felt inclined to have exalted the bard above my own -dignity, knowing that his influence upon the dispositions over which I -ruled could be rendered far more effective for the purposes that gave -me supremacy, than my own." - -"I expected it would move you in some measure," said Zabra, gazing with -affectionate interest upon the flushed cheek of his patron. - -"Move me! would a mælstrom move me?" cried the young merchant. "It seems -to have stirred the sluggish blood in every hidden vein and artery. My -brain throbs as if it would move up the scalp in which it is confined, -and the pulsations of my heart appear to have acquired the action of a -boiling torrent." - -"I am afraid I have done mischief," observed the musician anxiously; "I -did not count upon producing so violent an effect. Let me undo the evil -I have created by singing to you some lyric of an opposite tendency." - -"Where got you this power?" asked his companion, fixing a searching -glance upon the lustrous eyes before him. "By what means gained you -the rare art which you practise with such wondrous effect? Your's is no -common skill for the ignorant to admire; it is an influence which the -most tutored in worldly wisdom must feel and worship. You never could -have gained it while employed in the laborious idleness of a page. You -are too young to have acquired it by study. What mystery is this you -have gathered around you which gives you such a mastery over the -affections of your associates?" - -A slight tremor passed over the graceful form of the young musician: his -eyes shrunk before the earnest gaze of Oriel Porphyry, and, shaded by -their long dark lashes, were fixed upon the floor. - -"I will tell you;" said he at length. "Although great care was taken -with my education, from a very early age I was left much to my own -inclinations; and being gifted with an extraordinary love for knowledge, -and a rare facility in its acquirement, and a powerful tendency towards -that knowledge which was most ennobling, I rapidly obtained a degree -of intelligence which was rarely found even in a more mature period of -life. There were two particular objects of study to which I for years -dedicated an intense degree of attention: these were music and poetry. -Music was a source of the most exquisite gratification to me at all -times, and I applied diligently to make myself master of all its -difficulties. In this, after constant application, superintended -by the best masters, I succeeded, so as to be able to create at -pleasure any effect I was desirous of producing. In the study of -poetry I had no teachers, excepting the only teacher capable of giving -instruction--Nature. I went amid the stir of leaves in the heart of the -primeval forest; I stood beneath the dazzling glances of the countless -eyes of heaven; I looked down upon the waters of the great deep, till -I knew how to interpret its mighty voices; and the whisper of the wind -to the blushing flower became to me a lesson full of an exquisite and -impressive eloquence. There was not a sound in the air--a light upon -the skies--a splendour on the earth--or a motion in the sea, that did -not assist me in my study; for there were beauty and truth and power; -and these are the constituents of all natural poetry. But there was -something still wanting to breathe the spirit of life into the new -conceptions that had been created in my nature. This I found; and -from that time there has been a gladness in what I knew, and a purpose -in what I did. Now let me remove the too powerful impression I have -produced, by something more in accordance with my own sympathies. You -shall hear 'The Poet's Song to his Mistress.'" - -A symphony, full of the most touching interest, preceded a melody so -impassioned, yet so sweet in its expression, and harmonised in so -rich and masterly a manner, that the young merchant had soon all his -faculties engaged in deep and earnest attention. - - "That I should love thee is not strange, - For excellence doth love create; - But that my love should die or change - Can never be--'tis not in Fate: - For as thy worth, in heaven's bright view, - Must ever hold its glorious stature; - Shall not that bliss which from it grew - Partake of its immortal nature? - - "Nor can exist a taint of schism - In these fond feelings thou hast made; - For, like the colours in the prism, - They cannot change, they never fade. - Thus is it, then, sweet friend! my love - From thy fond worth Time ne'er can sever; - And must a natural goodness prove: - Things made from gold are sterling ever." - -At the conclusion of this song, which Zabra sang with a thrilling pathos -which must have reached the heart of his auditor, the two friends were -interrupted by a message from the captain, to acquaint Oriel that a -pilot had come on board to conduct the vessel up the river to Canton; -and that if he wished to observe the Chinese coast, there was now an -excellent opportunity. All thought of poetry and music seemed forgotten -for the time; for the musician and the young merchant immediately -hastened upon deck. - -The Albatross was passing Macao, and steering her course towards -Whampoa; and a group were on the quarter-deck noticing the appearance of -the country, the junks and other strange vessels they were passing, and -making observations upon what they saw. - -"We are approaching a people," said Fortyfolios, "who, if they are not -the most ancient that exist, lay claim to an antiquity of which few -could boast. They are the most extraordinary race on the globe, and the -most unchangeable in their habits. Though they preceded the rest of the -world in the march of civilisation; though they invented the arts of -printing, and of manufacturing silk fabrics and porcelain goods; though -they discovered the composition of gunpowder and the use of the magnetic -compass; they have never progressed beyond these advances. Thousands -of years have passed--nations that were not then in existence, in -intelligence have left them far behind--and still they remain exactly -as they were, and are not only indifferent to the improvements around -them, but look upon all other nations as barbarians unworthy of their -association. In vain have they been conquered: conquest could make no -change in their habits or opinions. Among the most celebrated of their -masters were the Manchews, a people doubtless so called from their -attachment to cannibalism, by whom they were held in subjection for -several centuries; and the English, who made a conquest of their empire -when in the zenith of their greatness. Their subjugation by the latter -was caused by their own pride and insolence. The Chinese were so -impressed with an opinion of their own superior greatness, that they -behaved to all foreigners who visited their shores for the purposes of -traffic with humiliating insolence. They were only allowed to trade -at one port, their merchandise was subjected to the most arbitrary -duties, and their merchants were treated with every kind of insult. -This was borne for a considerable period by the mercantile world, in -consideration of the importance of their commerce, and the impossibility -of finding their exports in other countries. But toleration only -increased the audacity of the Chinese authorities. They proceeded to -acts of violence: several vessels were plundered, and their crews were -murdered, or carried away, and never heard of after. At last the -English, having endured this treatment without being able to procure the -slightest redress, determined on retaliation. From their possessions in -India they invaded the Chinese territory with a powerful army, and at -the same time ravaged their coasts with a naval armament that destroyed -their shipping, plundered their towns, and laid their defences in ashes. -The Chinese, as cowardly as they had been insolent, though possessed -of an immense population and extraordinary resources, made but a feeble -resistance, and were glad to purchase peace upon any terms they could -make; but the English had discovered the weakness of their enemy, and -had not forgotten the oppressions they had endured, and did not desist -from the conflict till they had annexed the mighty empire of China to -their immense dominions in India." - -"All very true," added Tourniquet. "They were ignorant, bigoted, and -slavish, but for all that they were the most prosperous nation under -the sun, don't you see." - -"Their prosperity was occasioned by the laws by which they were -governed," said the professor. "Industry was encouraged. Agriculture was -pursued as the most honourable occupation, as one in which the emperor -delighted; and obedience was inculcated as the first duty of a citizen." - -"But what was the spirit of their laws?" inquired Oriel Porphyry. - -"Every father of a family was despotic in his own household: the emperor -was regarded by his subjects with the same reverence that a family -looked up to its domestic ruler; and an offence against the monarch was -punished in a similar manner as an offence against the parent;" replied -Fortyfolios. - -"I can imagine no state of things so arbitrary and so contrary to common -sense, don't you see;" observed the doctor. "By such a law, whether a -man be a drunkard or a profligate, a fool or a knave, he has unlimited -supremacy over his offspring; he can punish with death when he pleases, -and the poor wretches who acknowledge his relationship, dare not murmur. -He is a father; and fatherhood, like charity, covereth a multitude of -sins. There is nothing so ridiculous as this notion. No individual in -the great family of nature is entitled to the slightest respect, unless -he is respectable in his conduct. All relationship is an accident. A -father has no right to the obedience of his child, because he is his -father: that can only be the most absurd of claims; for he produced the -child to please himself, and at the time could have no sympathy towards -an object that was not in existence." - -"That cannot be disputed;" replied the professor. "But I must maintain, -that obedience in a child, to a reasonable extent, ought to exist as a -natural consequence of the care and anxiety of parentage." - -"Granted, with the limitations;" said the surgeon. "When a father brings -up his child with a proper affection, affection from the offspring -ought to be expected; but in no case has the parent a right to implicit -obedience, unless he has so acted, and the law he wishes to make -absolute is such as will not affect the welfare of the child. In many -instances the son possesses more intelligence than the father; and -yet, if parental subjugation were allowed, the wise must be held in -subjection by the opinion of the ignorant." - -"I should imagine such a form of government likely to be very ancient;" -observed Oriel. - -"It is unquestionably of great antiquity, and derived from the -patriarchal ages, when the oldest member of the family held supreme -authority over the rest;" responded Fortyfolios. - -"About as much as the ocean has originated from the drops of rain that -fell from the sky, don't you see;" added the doctor. - -"I maintain that the progenitors of the Chinese were a nomadic race;" -said the professor rather sharply. - -"Granted; and what then?" inquired the surgeon, in his usual -good-humoured manner. - -"That they were a collection of single families," continued -Fortyfolios. - -"So are all nations at the present time, don't you see;" remarked the -doctor. - -"Not in the manner which existed at the age to which I allude;" rejoined -his antagonist. "Every man dwelt in his own tent, surrounded by his -children and his children's children, and wandered with his herds and -flocks, to wherever he could find them sufficient pasturage. He governed -as a monarch with power of life and death, and the rules he found -necessary to preserve his government he transmitted to his successor; -till, the family increasing, it was found necessary that they should -separate into distinct divisions, each having its own father or ruler, -and, residing for mutual protection near each other, they constituted -tribes. The rules, which the experience of the first father had found -necessary for maintaining his authority, had been conveyed with -modifications and additions through his successors, till they became -possessed by the elders of the tribe, in whom all wisdom and government -resided; until the increase of their numbers, and the want of sufficient -accommodation, induced them to invade the more desirable territory of -other tribes; and then it was that he who distinguished himself most -in this warfare obtained supremacy over the rest, and having conquered -other tribes, and rendered himself by his superior bravery the object of -fear and admiration, he became king of all the people who acknowledged -his rule, and governed them by the laws that had existed previously in -his own particular family or tribe." - -"A very plausible hypothesis, but nothing more, don't you see;" replied -the doctor. "Doubtless all societies originated in one family, the -supreme head of which did what he thought fit; but I doubt much whether -he exercised such an authority as could sacrifice a life for an offence -real or imaginary; or created any code of laws for the government of -his relations. He did only what he thought necessary for the time; -and whether that constituted a precedent or not, it is not easy to -determine. The punishment which would be necessary at one time, might -not be thought necessary at another, don't you see. Where the judge is -absolute, and has no constitution to guide him, it is the mood in which -he may be when called upon to judge, that makes the sentence severe or -mild; and every judge, being independent of any higher authority, and -liable to act from prejudice or partiality, would create nothing but -inconsistent decisions, which could never be tolerated as a code -of laws. It is opinion that creates law. The heterogeneous mass of -absurdities that the few promulgate to hold the many in subjection would -not be tolerated except in a state of perfect slavery. Where there -is any intelligence among the people, and intelligence must make its -appearance sooner or later, every law that is found existing passes the -ordeal of public opinion, and if it be unwise or unjust, it will not be -regarded or its abrogation will be enforced. The multitude have a better -notion of the difference between right and wrong, than is generally -supposed; and nothing is so productive of a clearness of distinction in -these things among the people than a proper simplicity and applicability -of the laws by which they are governed. It is intelligence that produces -opinion, don't you see--and opinion that creates law--and law cannot -long exist in opposition to opinion." - -While the disputants were intently engaged in their argument, Oriel -Porphyry and Zabra had walked to another part of the deck, where the -captain and his lieutenant were giving orders about the management of -the vessel. - -"Fine old country, this, captain;" said the young merchant. - -"Yes, sir," replied Hearty: "fine old country, certainly. They do say -it's as old as Methusalem; but I never was in sight o' that coast, -therefore can't say what difference there may be between 'em." - -"You have been in this part of the world before, I should suppose?" -inquired Oriel. - -"Many times," responded the old man: "I knows the place well. I've been -afloat ever since I was a small craft as could hardly steer without -capsizing; and there arn't many seas in the world as I haven't been -over. John Chinaman and I are 'ticular acquaintances, because I've seen -a good deal on him. He's rather smart in his own notions o' himself, -but he makes a good reefer when aboard, and he'll carry like a steam -engine when ashore. Often when I've landed at this port from one or -other o' your father's ships, I've seen him bearing sich loads as 'ould -make a horse's back bone unkimmen ticklish. We're enterin' the river -now; and after sailing a few points west of north, we shall be nigh upon -the first bar, from whence we must steer due west to Whampoa, where we -shall cast anchor. You'll have then to go about ten miles to the -Factories, to which you must proceed in boats." - -"What strange looking ships these are;" remarked Zabra, pointing to -several vessels they were passing. - -"Ay, they are very queer shaped craft," said the captain. "But John -Chinaman's no great shakes at ship-buildin', although he thinks he's -wonderful. Look at that heavy lumbering junk. She looks like a great -thick-headed old muff, as does'n't know his helm from his taffrail. The -Albatross would take the conceit out o' her in no time. And look at -these here outlandish looking barges--there's no sense in 'em." - -"The country has rather an interesting character;" observed Oriel. - -"It's all accordin' to taste," replied Hearty. - -"These here islands o' sand ar'nt 'ticularly lovely to my thinking; and -I can't abide the ugliness o' the craft." - -"In what manner do these people now behave to foreigners?" inquired -Zabra. - -"Why it ar'nt quite so bad as what I've read on in ancient history;" -said the captain. "They've had a sick'ner for coming that sort o' fun; -but they coil up their noses pretty stiffish even now. They allow -travellers to wander about and examine their notables, which they did'nt -use to do; but I should recommend any fellow, who's more nor ordinary -'quisitive, to look out for squalls. I have heard say as people ha' been -missed who was axing their way through the country; and not a spar or a -bolt-rope on 'em ever heard on again." - -"About five years ago I was in this here part o' the world," said -Climberkin, joining in the conversation; "and I had a very narrow escape -o' bein' done for in that fashion. I was bo'sun aboard the Whittington, -a reg'lar tip top merchantman, as Master Porphyry had in the China trade -at that time, and after a wearisome cruise I had been jollificating up -the country with a few mates, when I came alongside as smart a piece o' -China ware as ever I clapped my eyes on. Well, she did'nt understand -none o' my lingo, and I could'nt circumnavigate any o' her'n; but we -had signals flying at our eyes like winkin', and we pretty soon heaved -to, and were yard arm and yard arm, and looked at each other till -all was blue again. I discovered that she belonged to the crew o' a -man-tea-maker's 'stablishment, and got her livin' pretty comfortable, -by alays 'turnin' over a new leaf (though she never did nuffin wrong -to sinnify); and so I thought as how if that was the way o' sailin', -I might bring her to book wi' her own leave, without any botheration -whatsomdever. Just as I was making way in the business, I received a -'munication from one o' my mates, who was up to their lingo, that some -half a dozen o' the Chinamen with whom she 'sociated, were on a reg'lar -take in about my consortin' wi' her, and had entered into a 'spiracy -to nail down the hatches on my goings on. Me and my little frigate were -in the habit o' cruisin' in a grove o' prime timber, by the side o' a -rice field, and it was here-about's that the man-tea-makers thought o' -dishing me as strong as could be; but I took care that they should meet -wi' a mighty difference. After preparin' every thin' as was necessary, -I got my mates to lie in ambush, and began a courtin' a way in a style -as would make the jealousy rise out o' a dead nigger. I had'nt been -long at this here fun, when up comes the whole lot on 'em screechin' -like mad, and they bears down upon me threatenin' the most completest -spiflification as you can imagine. Their eyes flared up most immensely. -Their teeth seemed playing at knives to grind; and they whirled about -monstrous bludgeons that would have made no bones o' me, had I suffered -'em to scrape my acquaintance. My cretur struck her flag and down she -went; but before the teapots came to close quarters, I put my bo'sun's -whistle into play; and pulled out a pair of 'do-for-you's,' as my mates -coming up and showing the same signs o' welcome, surrounded the poor -devils in such a way as they could'nt move no how." - -"And what did you do with your rivals?" inquired Oriel, considerably -amused by the lieutenant's narrative. - -"Why, I'd al'ays heard it recommended to do as you'd be done by," -replied Climberkin; "so we got the sticks from the Chinamen, and took -the flavour out on 'em in a manner as left 'em nuffin to complain of. -But we wern't satisfied with such an act o' justice. You must know that -each o' these tea-dealers has a tail to his head, from two to three feet -long, o' which he is as proud as is a peacock o' his tail, and shaves -all the rest o' his cranium as smooth as glass. Knowin' this, we'd -brought lots o' rosin and twine; and, while some o' our chaps made 'em -lump it if they didn't like it most considerably, we spliced them all -together from the small ends down'ards, for several inches, strong and -tight as a patent cable; then, seeing a tree close at hand with the -loveliest fork possible for our purpose, we hauled 'em up wi' ropes -over the branch till half on 'em hung on one side and half on the -tother, by nuffin in the world but their own precious tails. Didn't they -raise a bit of a shindy! Such howlin', such squallin'--such kickin', -such scratchin'--such a reg'lar rowdy-dow no set o' humans ever made -afore. And there we left 'em, as the ancient poet says, wi' each -partic'lar hair standin' on end, while we crowded all sail to our own -ship." - -"It was rather too bad of you, lieutenant," said the merchant's son, -attempting unsuccessfully to look grave; "and I wonder you did not get -yourself into trouble in consequence." - -"Why it did raise a smartish bit o' a bobbery," replied Climberkin; "but -we all kept so snug aboard, and sailed so soon arter, that not one on us -were diskivered." - -"We shall anchor immediately," said the captain, returning to the group -he had left to speak to the pilot. "Is it your wish, sir, to go ashore?" - -"I must be at Canton without delay," rejoined Oriel Porphyry. - -"Man the galley, and get a boat's crew ready to proceed up the river," -shouted Hearty to the second lieutenant. - -"Ay, ay, sir," was the ready reply; and while the boat was lowered into -the sea, and all her appurtenances provided, Zabra and his patron made -their arrangements for landing on the Chinese territory. - - - - -CHAP. VII. - -A CHINESE POET. - - -In an elegant room, the floor of which was covered with clean white -matting, while the furniture, consisting principally of a divan or sofa, -mirrors, pictures, couches, Japan tables, and large porcelain vases, was -of a superior description, cross-legged on the divan, eating sweetmeats -from a small silver saucer, richly chased, which he held in his hand, -sat a young man, of less than the ordinary stature, with a countenance -that seemed possessed of a perpetual melancholy. He was dressed with the -most studied effect. He wore a robe of dark rich silk, and over it a -vest of delicate blue satin, beautifully figured. Upon his head, which -was shaved, with the exception of a long lock of hair that hung from the -crown over the shoulder, was a small black cap of fine felt, with the -brim turned up, and the crown, of a conical shape, covered with a fringe -of scarlet silk, having a peculiar button in front. Below wide trowsers -were seen stockings of silk, remarkably thin, having their feet cased in -small slippers of embroidered satin; and round his waist was a girdle, -drawn very tight, to which was appended a small gold case, a purse, and -a pouch of silk. Opposite to him sat Oriel Porphyry and Zabra, in their -usual dresses, also eating sweetmeats from similar saucers. - -"What an ineffable felicity I enjoy in being able to speak your -language," observed the young Chinese. - -"I have no doubt you find it an advantage in your communication with -foreigners," replied the merchant's son. - -"An advantage!" exclaimed the other rapturously. "By the great Fo, -'tis the most superlative of enjoyments. I bless the gods that my -mother was an Anglo-Indian, and that she conferred on me the exquisite -gratifications arising from proficiency in the use of her language. -My father passed a great portion of his life in India, and acquired a -facility in its pronunciation which is rarely obtained by a Chinese; so -that I was born with extraordinary advantages." - -"You were fortunate, certainly," added Oriel. - -"Fortunate! By the immaculate tail of Confucius, I was favoured beyond -all experience," cried his host. - -There being nothing more to say on that subject, at least so the young -merchant thought, he inquired--"Your father, I suppose, will be here -shortly?" - -"He is paying his devotions at the neighbouring temple. Long Chi enjoys -a religious reputation, and he loves the society of holy men. But I was -telling you of the indescribable happiness I possess in having acquired -a proficiency in my mother tongue," added Long Chi the younger. "I am -blest with a poetic genius." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Zabra, with some surprise. - -"Wonderful as it may appear, the fact is what I have stated," replied -the young poet, putting down the silver saucer on a small japanned table -before him, and opening the pouch at his side, from which he took a -bundle of papers. "I may say that my compositions have attracted an -extraordinary degree of attention in the world of letters. They are -considered phenomena in literature, I assure you. Do not imagine I wish -to overrate their value. I should not think of such a thing for the -thousandth part of a moment; and to prove this to you, allow me to -enrapture you with some of my effusions." - -"Certainly," said Oriel, expecting at least to be amused. - -"The effort of a profound sublimity I am about to breathe into your -enlightened ears, you will have the intellectual discrimination to -observe, is a perfect specimen of the true Anglian pastoral," remarked -Long Chi. "It has been created by that etherial sense of delicious -enjoyment which your ancient poets called love. She for whose immaculate -glorification it was called into existence, is a combination of -miraculous excellencies--an incarnation of inconceivable perfections; -and therefore your superior sagacities must not deem it at all more than -ordinary extraordinary, if the merits of this indestructible conception -fill you with a ravishing amazement." - -"From what you have said I should expect something particularly clever," -observed Zabra, evidently considerably amused by the poet's phraseology. - -"Clever!" exclaimed the young Chinese, with emphatic fervour. "By the -great Fo you will find it supernaturally perfect." Then arranging a -rumple in his vest, and taking a glance of satisfaction at the -reflection of his person in a large mirror beside him, with a slow and -careful enunciation of each word, and a peculiar wave of the hand to -mark the measure, the melancholy poet read the following verses:-- - - "Have you seen my Fee Fo Fum, - Tell me did she this way come? - She it is of whom I speak - Hath a pink on either cheek; - In the middle of her face - Is a flower of nameless grace, - Which the name of nose hath known, - And blooms the brightest when 'tis blown. - And her eyes are garden plots - Filled with young forget-me-nots, - That by lovers' eyes are found - Flow'ring all the seasons round. - Shepherds did she this way come? - Have you seen my Fee Fo Fum? - - "If below her nose you look, - There's a little rosy nook; - Two twin buds half open ask, - Smiling, for some fondling task, - While within, in each row, - The lilies of the valley grow. - Just beneath them both begins - The blossom of the best of chins; - Fair and round, and smooth as silk, - And like a peach fresh bathed in milk. - Shepherds, did she this way come? - Have you seen my Fee Fo Fum? - - "Breast of mutton, breast of veal, - All your merits now conceal; - What can ye afford to taste - Half so pleasant, half so chaste, - As the dainty bits that lie - Hid from epicurean eye? - What to them compared are ye, - Calipash and calipee? - Go! the sweeter flesh I've known - Wants no sauce to coax it down. - Shepherds, did she this way come? - Have you seen my Fee Fo Fum? - - "She of whom I'm in pursuit - Hath to these a foot 'to boot;' - Such a foot! 'tis like a rose, - Budding out with five small toes. - Calf's foot, likened as a treat, - To a jelly it would beat: - She hath two--but my regard - Makes each foot excel a yard-- - Go any lengths it might reveal, - Save when she turns upon her heel. - Shepherds, did she this way come? - Have you seen my Fee Fo Fum?" - -"It certainly is a superlative composition," remarked Zabra, attempting -to conceal a laugh. - -"I can safely say I never heard any thing like it," added Oriel in a -similar tone. - -"I entertained an incipient conviction that you would find it -marvellously admirable," replied the poet, elevating his head, and -stroking his mustachios. "'Tis ineffably divine, is it not?" - -"Beautiful!" exclaimed both, looking at each other with a smile of -peculiar meaning. - -"Beautiful!" echoed Long Chi, raising his voice and eyebrows. "By the -invulnerable tail of Confucius, 'tis something for which a name cannot -be found. But exquisitely perfect as it may be, here is a production -that excels it in the very unapproachableness of its excellence." - -While the two friends listened with admirable patience, the young -Chinese unfolded another paper, and read with the same gravity these -lines:-- - - "When first we met 'twas in the spring, - When dicky birds begin to sing, - When nature dishes up her greens - To make removes for rural scenes; - And teaches, with unaltered brows, - When trees take leaf, to make their boughs; - Then first I met thee passing by, - Then first I had thee--in my eye. - - "When next we met 'twas summer time, - When trees, well loaded, seemed to prime; - And other plants just taking root, - Meaning no harm, began to shoot; - When beans their hollow 'shells' would doff, - And marrow fats were going off; - Then first our hearts were growing warm, - Then first I had thee--arm in arm. - - "'Twas autumn when we met again, - When sunshine parched the peas and plain; - When plums are blooming on the wall, - And into flour would gladly fall; - When apples are to fritters torn, - And earth's square feet feel many a corn: - Then first did I forget my fears, - Then first I had thee--box my ears. - - "I saw thee last when winter, nice - In eating, loves to have his ice; - When 'cold without' comes near and far, - And all his sweetmeats frosted are, - To ballot when the white balls roll - Unask'd for, hastening to the poll: - Then first I 'broke the ice,' and then - Was I the happiest of men." - -"That exceeds the last certainly," said Oriel Porphyry, amused with the -perfect gravity with which the poet read his verses. - -"It appears to me quite a new style of poetry," remarked Zabra, with as -much seriousness as he could assume. - -"Unquestionably! it is novel in the novelest degree," replied Long Chi, -smiling with all the graciousness of gratified vanity. "I may with the -most complete justice lay claim to be the origin in which originated its -originality. I have studied sublimity. By the great Fo, I may say that; -and I have found the sublime in every individual natural thing that is -in nature; but in cookery and confectionary it predominates, as must be -evident to the inquisitive investigation of any man of taste. It is the -opinion of the most discriminative judges, that no writer of serious -poetry can compete with me." - -"In that opinion every one must coincide," observed Zabra. - -"There can be no question on the subject," added Oriel. - -"Who shall say you are barbarians, when you exhibit such a superabundant -knowledge of the beautiful?" exclaimed the Chinese, with all the energy -he could assume. "I am immeasurably enraptured to notice such an -admirable judgment; and, as an additional proof of the satisfaction -I receive from your friendly attention, I will still, to a much more -infinite extent, delight your auditory nerves with one of the most -serious of my efforts in serious poetry. Mark the true sublime; mark it -well, and see how splendidly it agrees with the magnificent subject. It -is an ode to a sugarplum." - -The poet unfolded another paper; and the young merchant shrugged up his -shoulders, as he heard its contents read with the same tone and manner -as its predecessors. - - "How shall I grasp a subject so immense? - No power of human sense, - Not all the vast - Ideas within the Present and the Past-- - Not algebra's most unknown quantity could give the sum - Of greatness in a sugar plum! - - "What with its sweetness can compete? - How much it beats the beet! - Shall manna dare, - Wanting in manners, with it to compare? - And honey's linked sweetness, long drawn out, is all a hum, - 'Tis nothing to a sugar plum! - - "Who can deny the sense of truth - It gives the tongue of youth? - It hath the praise - Of being always candied in its ways, - And stops the carping critic's mouth till he becometh dumb, - Delighted with a sugar plum! - - "Comfit, come fit my mouth, and I - In thy sweet praise will try - My hand at feet, - With anxious aim to make the metre meet, - Till Arabic, or any other diff'rent sort of gum, - Shall water for a sugar plum. - - "Muse, if thy musings can prevail, - I'll at it tooth and nail; - I have no nerves - Of taste for syrups, jellies, or preserves; - Oh, let them go to pot, say I, as so much worthless scum, - They cannot make a sugar plum. - - "Bull's eyes may stick within the shop, - And so may lollapop, - Elecampane - Unsucked within its bottles may remain; - And barley sugar, brandy balls, or even balls of rum, - I'd spurn to get a sugar plum. - - "Plums from the trees I do not find - So plummy to my mind; - Orleans or egg - Unnoticed for my patronage may beg; - And damsons may be da--; ah, I'm in a passion, I say mum, - I'll swear not for a sugar plum." - -"You excel yourself, sir," said Oriel Porphyry, with something of -sarcasm in the tone of his voice, arising, perhaps, from his becoming a -little out of patience. - -"By the unsophisticated tail of Confucius, you may say that," replied -the poet with the same seriousness he had from the first evinced. -"Having, in so unutterable a manner, obtained the precedency of my -promiscuous cotemporaries, I had no alternative but to enter into -competition with myself. That I have to so wonderful an extent exceeded -my own super-excellence, therefore, cannot be considered strange; but, -as you are evidently gratified in a manner perfectly unparalleled by -the unimaginable superiority of my poetic genius, I will show my -consideration of your admirable sagacity by enrapturing you still more -completely by a more transcendental attempt at the sublime;" and the -young Chinese began unfolding another paper. - -"Not now, I'm very much obliged to you," said Oriel, rising as if to -depart. "I have business of importance that requires my immediate -attendance; and, having waited for Long Chi so long, I am afraid I -cannot protract my visit." - -"Not to be ravished by the immortal praises of the adorable Fee Fo Fum?" -exclaimed the melancholy poet in the utmost astonishment. - -"I cannot allow myself that pleasure at present," said the merchant's -son, courteously, yet looking as if he was impatient to be gone. - -"I've written an indestructible epos in fifty cantos, descriptive of all -her beauties, with a due regard of anatomy. I'll read you the whole of -it, if you will stay," added the lover. - -"I'm infinitely thankful; but my time is precious," observed Oriel, -making rapid strides to the door. - -"I will enrapture you with a thousand hexameters declaratory of my -incommunicable affections," shouted the prolific versifier. - -"Good morning to you, Long Chi," exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, as he opened -the door, evidently very desirous of making his escape. He was on the -point of leaving the room, accompanied by Zabra, when he was stopped in -his progress by the appearance of a stout elderly Chinese, wearing the -appearance of profound gravity. No sooner had he entered, than the poet -shuffled his papers hastily into his pouch, jumped off the divan, and -approached the stranger with looks of veneration and awe. - -"Father, here are the barbarians you expected," said he. The ceremony of -introduction was soon over; the two friends returned to their seats; and -old Long Chi, seating himself cross-legged on the divan, commenced a -conversation with his visitors, while his son remained standing beside -him in respectful attention. He was dressed in a fashion somewhat -similar to that of the younger Chinese; but the materials were not so -gay, nor were they formed with so much neatness; and he wore boots -of black satin instead of slippers, and a short cloak of fine cloth -trimmed with fur. - -"I have been sacrificing at the temple, which has detained me longer -than I anticipated," said Long Chi the elder. "But religion is the first -concern of life. Nothing should stand in the way of religion. The Bonzes -are the only teachers of truth; and the worship of Fo is the only way -that leads to virtue." - -Neither Zabra nor his patron attempted to dispute this doctrine. - -"I have been reading, father," falteringly uttered the poet--"I have -been reading----" - -"Hold your tongue, Long Chi," exclaimed his parent sharply. - -"Father, I obey," murmured the obedient youth. - -"Obedience is the first of virtues, and duty to parents the first of all -obedience," remarked the old man, with a tone that seemed to his son -more infallible than the sentence. "Children, obey your parents, saith -our religion; and if they are disobedient we give them a touch of the -bamboo." The poet at this moment looked remarkably grave. "Subjects, -obey your rulers, saith the law; and if we become unruly _we_ get a -touch of the bamboo." And the father looked as grave as his son. - -"That is, I suppose, what is called being bamboo-zled," observed Oriel -Porphyry with a smile. - -"It is no laughing matter to us, I can assure you," added the old man -feelingly; "but it is a fine thing for children. Our religion says, -Spare the bamboo, and spoil the child: and I'm attentive to religion." - -"I wish it said, Spoil the bamboo, and----" - -"Hold your tongue, Long Chi!" thundered out the parent. - -"Father, I obey," tremblingly replied the son. - -"The bastinado is the best thing in the world for children," continued -the elder, frowning upon his offspring. "We are obliged to provide for -their bodies, and it is but proper we should do what we can for their -soles. When a schism occurs in the family, I always punish it in that -way." - -"Then it becomes a sole-cism," added the young man, sorrowfully. - -The old Chinese snatched up a heavy bamboo cane with which he had been -walking, and swung it furiously round his head, with the intention of -dealing a severe blow upon the poet's shoulders, but the lover of -the adorable Fee Fo Fum jumped out of the way with more agility than -submission, and the blow chipped off a corner of the japanned table. - -"Is this the way you show your obedience, you undutiful wretch?" shouted -Long Chi, as he jumped off the divan, in a rage after the offender. -"Where's your religion? Where's your duty to parents? Spare the bamboo -and spoil the child! Come and be bastinadoed, you ungrateful youth!" -So saying, he waddled after his son as rapidly as he could, making -desperate attempts to knock him down; but as Long Chi the younger not -only was not so dutiful as to wait to be bastinadoed, but jumped out of -the way of the blows as fast as they were aimed at him, Long Chi the -elder, much fatigued by his exertions, at last returned to the divan, -after having afforded infinite diversion to his visitors. - -"I wonder the roof doesn't fall in and cover you, you unnatural -offspring!" exclaimed the father, shaking the bamboo at his son, who -stood trembling at a respectful distance; then wiping the perspiration -from his shaven crown, he added, addressing the young friends, and the -poet, by turns, "You are shocked, no doubt, at this instance of youthful -depravity--Oh the graceless scoundrel! to run away from his affectionate -father, who was going to beat him black and blue!--But I am happy to -say, that there are few children in China so indifferent to the mild -virtues of paternal government.--Come here, and let me knock your -undutiful head into a thousand pieces, you vagabond!--It is a sad thing, -I acknowledge, for the father of a family, who is anxious to bring up -a child in the way it should go, to find it so insensible of his -loving-kindness.--Oh, if I had you near enough, I'd smash you into a -custard, you graceless varlet!--but you see a parent's heart is always -overflowing with natural affection for his own flesh and blood.--By the -great Fo, I should be delighted to bastinado you within an inch of your -life!--Religion and morality, in these atheistical times, are thought -nothing of by some children.--Haven't I brought you up, you heathen! on -purpose to knock you down?--But this isn't the worst of it--they have -become rank republicans. They have no proper notion of law, order, or -government. When the father takes to his bamboo, the son takes to his -heels--abominable rebel!--and when one flies in a passion the other -flies in his face--unparalleled traitor!" - -The entrance of servants, announcing that dinner was ready, put an end -to the altercation; and Long Chi the elder, with much suavity, pressed -his visitors to remain his guests for the remainder of the day; which -invitation Oriel Porphyry, imagining that he should be free from all -persecution from the rhyming propensities of his host's son, and -expecting some amusement from the peculiarities of the two, forgot his -engagements, and agreed to prolong his visit. Long Chi the elder then -took one hand of each of his guests in his own and proceeded with them -into a handsome apartment, furnished in a style similar to the one they -had left. In the centre was a small low table, having four seats or -cushions at its sides. The father and son sat opposite each other, -cross-legged: and their visitors sat as comfortably as they could, -facing each other, at the other sides of the table. Before each was -placed three elegant porcelain saucers, one containing soy, another a -small quantity of vinegar, and the other was empty; and, beside these, -were two little ivory sticks. The other part of the table was covered -with similar porcelain saucers, filled with various specimens of Chinese -cookery in fish, flesh, and fowl, cut small; and servants handed round -these with dishes of vegetables, such as cabbages, cucumbers, rice, and -cauliflowers; and pastry of many different kinds, as they were directed -by the host. - -Both Oriel and Zabra watched with considerable surprise the two Chinese -take the little ivory sticks in the three first fingers of the right -hand, and, placing the head forward, and opening the mouth wide, dip -them in the saucers, catching up pieces of flesh, which they flavoured -with the vinegar, and dexterously flinging them into their mouths; and -repeating the process so rapidly, that the eye could scarcely follow -their movements. The guests attempted the same manoeuvres; but, as may -easily be imagined, they were not so successful: for one piece that went -into the mouth, a dozen went out; and, rapidly as the different saucers -were handed to them, by the desire of the master of the house, they -found that their appetites were not in any thing like the same degree -becoming satisfied. Pieces of silver paper were frequently placed near -them, with which they as frequently wiped their mouths and fingers, and -not before such an operation was required; for their awkward attempts at -imitating their entertainers occasioned them to deposit on their persons -a considerable portion of the gravy or sauces in which the meat was -dressed. Old Long Chi was indefatigable in endeavouring to make his -visiters taste the contents of every saucer upon the table; in which -effort they would gladly have seconded him, had their ability kept pace -with their inclinations; but, to their exceeding disappointment, they -found that the more they tried the less they swallowed; and, although -they dipped their sticks and bobbed their heads after the savoury viands -as they dropped from their treacherous hold, they had the mortification -of finding, when the saucers were cleared away, that they were left in -the enjoyment of quite as much appetite as they possessed when they -first sat down to dinner. - -Several kinds of soups were now brought on table, in curious boat-shaped -vessels of porcelain; and with these, to the great gratification of the -guests, appeared ivory spoons. Every one of the soups was tasted; and -gladly would Oriel have made use of his spoon upon the more substantial -cookeries that had been carried away: but he saw no more of them; and, -the table having been cleared of the soups, fruits, and preserves, with -glasses of a spirit made from rice were handed round. At this time, -Long Chi the elder bent his head reverentially, and said, in a fervent -manner, and with an audible voice, - -"Grant, O Fo, that the good things thou hast so bountifully provided for -us do not interfere with our digestion, or trouble us with apoplexy!" -and left the apartment to change his dress; soon after which the guests, -preceded by the younger Long Chi, returned to the saloon, where they -partook of tea and sweetmeats. - -"Now that the old boy has gone," said the melancholy poet, as soon as -he had seated himself on the divan, "I will give you the felicitous -gratification of hearing the perusal of my great epic in praise of the -adorable Fee Fo Fum." - -"Not for the world!" exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, with remarkable emphasis; -"I would not trouble you on any account." - -"Trouble!" cried the lover, as he commenced searching in his pouch; "by -the inconceivable tail of Confucius, 'tis to me the most superlatively -exquisite of extraordinary gratifications; and, when you come to -entertain a proper consciousness of the inestimable treasures of -intellectual greatness, which I have lavished with so profuse a -liberality for the purpose of giving immortality to the unrivalled -attractions of the adorable Fee Fo Fum, you will acknowledge, with that -profound sagacity which you have already evinced by your commendation of -my incorruptible effusions, that the particular portions of the diurnal -revolution you have passed in obtaining an adequate knowledge of its -innumerable excellences, has appeared to you to proceed with such an -agreeable velocity, that you cannot, with any particular positiveness, -assert that you have, during that period, been in a state which is -vulgarly called existence." - -"There is no doubt of it," replied Oriel, with considerable uneasiness, -as he observed his tormentor unfolding a paper for perusal; "but I can -only enjoy such things at certain periods; and at present I am positive -that the merits of your productions would be entirely lost upon me." - -"By the great Fo, impossible!" exclaimed the poet. "In what corner of -the world hides the wretch so lost to every noble feeling--so lost to -every sense of excellence--so inhuman, unnatural, and preposterously -ignorant--as to listen to the incorruptible wisdom with which I can -enlighten him, and not become transported into the very heaven of -heavens?" - -"You have already enlightened us to an extent as far as our limited -intellects allow us to be enlightened by such productions as those -you have read," observed Zabra, with an earnest attempt to be serious; -"and it would be only throwing away the talents you possess on persons -utterly incompetent to appreciate their merits, if you continue the -perusal of your effusions." - -"All imaginary," said the persevering versifier; "and you will forget -it in your sense of the sublime which must be excited by hearing the -perusal of the following passage." Long Chi the younger had opened -his manuscript, had made a preparatory flourish of his hand, and had -commenced some description, with the ordinary exclamation, "Oh!" when, -happening to cast his eye towards the door, he encountered the frowning -visage of his father. His hand dropped from its elevation: he quickly -whipped his papers into his pouch, and jumped off the divan, with a -celerity particularly acceptable to Zabra and his companion. - -Old Long Chi appeared in a dress much more splendid than the one he had -previously worn; and, gravely fixing himself in the seat his son had -vacated, he commenced a conversation upon the business and voyage of his -guests. Old Long Chi was a merchant of considerable experience and great -wealth, with whom Master Porphyry had long had commercial dealings. He -was remarkable for a profound gravity, a pair of moustachios the points -of which descended to his chin, and a tail of hair which was the -admiration of all his countrymen. Although he had passed the early part -of his life in India, and had married an Anglo-Indian, on his return, -like all Chinese, he continued the customs of his country, and gloried -in its fancied superiority over the rest of the world. He had always -been distinguished as a severe moralist. He seemed desirous of -acquiring the praise of the Bonzes for the regularity of his attendance -at the temples; and sought to be respected in society for the liberality -of his contributions towards religious objects. Oriel and he were a -considerable time agreeing about some merchandise that both had to -barter; during which the melancholy poet stood at a respectful distance, -looking at his parent, and then at the bamboo, with more dread than -affection; while Zabra amused himself by taking notice of the scene -before him. - -"You have not seen much of our incomparable country, I suppose?" -inquired the old man as he sipped a strong infusion of the tea leaf from -a beautiful porcelain cup. - -"I have only landed this morning," replied his guest. - -"Ah! then you have much to see," added the other. "It is the most -ancient government under the sun; and such a government! such laws, such -institutions, and such a religion! The Emperor is quite a father to his -subjects." - -"With the bamboo, father?" asked his son tremblingly. - -"Hold you tongue, Long Chi!" bawled out the old man. - -"Father, I obey!" murmured the youth submissively. - -"Are the laws mild in their operation?" inquired Zabra. - -"Remarkably so," replied Long Chi the elder. "When punishment is -inflicted, it is done on the most humane principles: you may get -bastinadoed till you faint with pain; and then you will get bastinadoed -till you recover." - -"How very paternal!" exclaimed the young Long Chi emphatically. - -"Silence, Long Chi!" shouted the old man. - -"Father, I obey!" said his obedient son. - -Both Zabra and his patron seemed much amused by this description of the -mildness of the Chinese laws; but, fearing, if he pressed the subject -much farther, the bamboo might come into operation in the domestic -sovereignty with a similar character, Oriel Porphyry said,-- - -"I was much surprised with the great variety of dishes that appeared at -dinner." - -"Our preparations for the table are endless," responded his host. "In -our cookery books we have fifty different ways of dressing dogs' ears." - -"I could find a way of dressing dogs' ears in any book," muttered the -melancholy poet at a distance. - -"I'll give yours a dressing, you puppy! if you don't hold your tongue," -bawled his father. - -"Dogs' ears!" exclaimed Zabra in surprise: "we had none to-day, had we?" - -"We had six different varieties, of each of which you partook," replied -the other. - -"Bah!" said Oriel Porphyry, with a countenance expressing any thing but -pleasure. - -"But that was not the only delicacy brought on table," continued the old -man. "You seemed particularly to enjoy a fricassee of the rats of Loo -Choo." - -"Rats! we haven't been eating rats, surely?" demanded Zabra, as if -horrorstruck at the idea. - -"And you swallowed nearly the whole of the soup made from the large -slugs of Japan!" he added. - -"Ugh!" exclaimed both his visiters in a breath, looking in the highest -degree disgusted at the idea of such fare. - -"It is dangerous," said the melancholy poet, gravely, "to load either -the stomach or your arms with slugs; especially----" He was not allowed -time to finish the sentence; for, seeing his father snatch up the -dreaded bamboo, and spring off the divan towards him, with a look -threatening utter extermination, he dived under a table, leaped over an -ottoman, dodged round several vases, and then rapidly made his exit out -at the door, closely pursued by his parent; and their visiters, fancying -that they had had quite enough of Chinese hospitality, hastened their -departure. - -They were proceeding through the narrow streets of Canton, bounded by -the gloomy walls that shut out the houses from public view, experiencing -some very disagreeable sensations, when they heard a violent -altercation, and thought they distinguished voices familiar to them. -They listened. - -"Oh! oh! oh! This is not arguing logically. Oh! oh! This is -demonstration without reason. Oh! oh! oh!" was heard amid a shower of -blows. - -"Oh! oh! you're breaking my back--don't you see! Ah! murder! help!" was -shouted with similar accompaniments; and a door in the wall opening, out -ran Fortyfolios and Tourniquet, making a desperate outcry, and vainly -striving to save themselves from the thick sticks of half a dozen -infuriated Chinese, who were belabouring them without mercy. Oriel, as -soon as he saw the state of the case, rushed in amongst the attacking -party; quickly deprived one of his weapon, and laid about him with such -dexterity and vigour, that three out of the six were left senseless on -the ground, and the rest had vanished before the philosophers discovered -to whom they were indebted for their rescue. - -"I am astonished that I should have found you in such a situation," -remarked the young merchant to the professor and his companion, who, -with most rueful visages, were busily engaged in rubbing their legs, -shoulders, arms, and backs. - -"Why, I will explain it to you as logically as I can," said Fortyfolios, -moving his features and body into an abundance of contortions. "Oh, this -pain! it certainly is a physical evil." - -"That I deny!" eagerly exclaimed the other, writhing from the effects -of his beating. "Pain is a perception of the mind, and cannot exist -independently of mental perceptions--don't you see?" - -"Impossible!" replied the professor, limping along as if every bone -in his body was broken. "I maintain that it is a sensation purely -corporeal, as there never yet was any pain where there was no body." - -"You know nothing about it," sharply rejoined the doctor, cautiously -feeling with his hands to discover his fractures. "There is mental -anguish, in which the physical has no connection--don't you see?" - -"But, gentlemen, what has this argument to do with the information I -required?" asked the young merchant. - -"I was about to enter into the subject in a proper manner, when Doctor -Tourniquet interrupted me," observed Fortyfolios. - -"I deny that!" eagerly exclaimed the surgeon. - -"Doctor Tourniquet, you ought to be ashamed of yourself!" said the -professor, assuming all his dignity. - -"I deny that!" repeated the pertinacious disputant. - -"Doctor, you are more than usually disputative," remarked Zabra. - -"I deny that!" continued he: and it now became evident to Oriel Porphyry -and his young friend, that both the professor and the doctor were -exhilarated into a state nearly approaching intoxication. - -"Demonstration! demonstration! Give me accurate demonstration: I'll not -be convinced without it--don't you see?" said the surgeon. - -"Argument is thrown away upon you: you are unreasonable, illogical, and -inconvincible," muttered the other. - -"Prove it! prove it! Give me the proof positive--let me behold the proof -circumstantial," exclaimed his antagonist. - -"Doctor Tourniquet, I beg you'll be silent," said the young merchant, in -a tone that admitted of no dispute; and the doctor seemed only anxious -to discover the extent of the hurts he had received. "And now, Professor -Fortyfolios," he continued, "you can proceed." - -"To come to a proper understanding of the case, you must be made aware -that we left the Albatross on purpose to see whatever was worthy of -observation in the city," observed the professor; "and, as I possessed -a letter of introduction to a Columbian resident, there we first -proceeded. We were heartily welcomed, and treated with a national -hospitality; and were shown several remarkable things, of which the -world will hear at a fitting opportunity. In returning from a place -we had visited together, our friend suddenly left us to talk to some -acquaintance he saw at the end of the street; and we thought we saw -him go into a house, where we knocked. We were admitted; and I began -explaining to the fellows, by whom we were immediately surrounded, -that I desired to see my friend; but, without the slightest attempt at -argument, the unreasonable brutes commenced beating us with heavy -cudgels, till they were dispersed by your appearance." - -"Let us see if I have killed these poor wretches," said Oriel, turning -back to the place where he had left the three prostrate Chinese; but, to -his great astonishment, and to the amazement of his companions, not a -trace of either of them was to be seen. The dead men had taken advantage -of their enemy being at a distance to scamper off from the field of -battle as fast as their legs could carry them; and when the conqueror -came to examine the destruction he had committed, he had the -mortification of discovering that his triumph might take same note of -"the missing," but the number of killed and wounded was not so easily -ascertained. - - - - -CHAP. VIII. - -THE MONSOON. - - -After paying short visits to some of the principal ports in the -flourishing kingdoms of Borneo and Sumatra, the Albatross was gallantly -pursuing her voyage through the Strait of Malacca. There had been no -wind for several days, and the sky had continued without a cloud. There -was an oppressive sultriness in the atmosphere; and so great appeared -the heat of the sun's rays, that the pitch oozed out of the seams of the -vessel, and the timber became scorched and blistered. This continued, -with very little variation, till the ship, approaching the coast of -India, entered the Bay of Bengal. A little speck was first observed -upon the horizon, which gradually enlarged; and soon afterwards several -other dark vapours appearing on the heavens, rapidly increased in size, -till vast masses of clouds came from the north-east, thickening, and -darkening, and swallowing up the whole of the bright sky which had but a -short time since been visible. The sea, from a state of calm, suddenly -became stirred in all its depths: its billows rose into hills, the -hills into mountains; and the vast waves, as they acquired additional -magnitude, lashed each other with such a violence, that their tops were -crested with foam. Almost at the same moment came on powerful gusts of -wind, that kept continually increasing in force, till each drove the -mountainous waves before it, as if they were grains of dust, and swept -the Albatross over them with as much ease as if it were but a feather. -Her spars bent--her timbers creaked; and occasionally some part of the -rigging would be stripped off like dead leaves from a tree. - -Floods of rain poured down, as if there was a sea in the sky that was -being emptied into the waters of the earth; and the lightning, flashing -in streaks of lurid fire, exhibited the black tempest gathering in the -clouds in all its terrors. Then came the thunder, booming in deafening -peals, that seemed to shake the world to its centre. The desperate wind -rushed on with all its might--then came the deluge--then flashed the -electric light--and then the thunder burst again with renewed fury. This -succession of forces was exerted upon the ship, without intermission, -the whole of the night, as she scudded rapidly along under close-reefed -foresail and maintop-sail; but, although it was evident to the oldest -sailors in the vessel, from the manner in which she behaved during the -tempest, that a more admirable boat had never been built, she suffered -very severely in many places. Several of the ports were stove in, the -gangways torn away, the quarter galleries crushed; ropes were snapped -like threads, and a few of the spars were splintered into fragments. The -water rushed in through the gaping ports, till the lee side of the main -deck was a complete pool, several feet in depth; and the monstrous waves -swept over the ship in such immense masses, that many of the crew every -moment expected that she would be overwhelmed. - -Towards morning, the fury of the elements in some degree abated; but the -broken spars, and the torn rigging, had scarcely been repaired, before -the storm recommenced with renewed vigour. Nothing seemed capable of -withstanding its destructive violence. The wind howled, and the thunder -boomed, and the lightning flashed, and the big waves came rushing on -with more fury than ever. Every timber creaked, and the ship was leaking -at every seam. The exertions of the old captain had not ceased since the -commencement of the tempest. In the loudest roar of the storm, his voice -might be heard shouting his orders through a speaking-trumpet. He was -everywhere where he thought his presence was necessary; and, forgetting -his superiority in the necessities of the moment, he bore a hand in -the most laborious and dangerous duties. He was ably seconded by his -officers; and, although the crew had been harassed by constant exertion, -they cheerfully continued their efforts to work the vessel, and save -her from the violence with which she was assailed. To add to their -disquietude, they discovered that she had been forced a considerable -way from her course, and that there was an alarming depth of water in -the hold: the fore-mast bent like a mere twig; and every instant the -fore-topmast threatened to go by the board. - -The engine was immediately set to work to reduce the leak; and, a -sufficient power having been applied, the water began to diminish. The -helm was now directed towards Bengal. The men laboured indefatigably to -repair the injuries the ship had sustained; and hopes were entertained -that, if the masts remained secure, the Albatross might ride out the -monsoon, and reach her destination in safety. Towards the afternoon, -there was a lull, and the men got both refreshment and repose. Oriel -Porphyry had not left the deck during the whole of the time the danger -was most imminent; and Zabra, as usual, had continued by his side. Both -seemed to take a sort of fearful interest in watching the progress of -the tempest; and, although the water dashed over them in torrents, and -they were frequently obliged to hold on with all their strength, to -prevent being swept away by the wind, they remained in nearly the same -position, observing the vivid flashes of light that played amid the -rigging, and looking into the black depths of the foaming ocean, as they -descended into the trough of some mighty wave. Neither spoke: at -least, rarely was a word uttered; and, if the friends had attempted to -converse, the uproar that raged around them would have prevented any -other sound from being heard. Several times Captain Hearty approached, -and earnestly advised them to go below, as they exposed themselves to -much unnecessary danger; but Zabra remained, with his head resting upon -the shoulder of his patron, and his hand clasped in Oriel's, as if he -knew of no protection where he was not; and the merchant's son, as -if pleased with the affection of his youthful friend, would not be -persuaded to leave the deck. - -"Does any thing ail you, Zabra?" at last asked Master Porphyry, during -an intermission of the storm, noticing that his companion had made two -or three short hysteric sobs. - -"No; I am well, I am quite well, Oriel," murmured the youth, as he -raised his head, and looked in the face of his associate. - -"Why, your eyes are filled with tears, Zabra! How is this?" exclaimed -the other affectionately. - -"I know not. A feeling has come over me, which I could not control," -replied he in a whisper, as his delicate frame trembled with emotion. "I -was thinking--I was thinking that, if the ship was swallowed up in these -huge waves, that--that I should like--that I should like to die--that -I should like to die with you thus;" and, with many sobs, he flung his -arms round the neck of his patron, and let his head droop upon his -breast. - -"And so you shall, Zabra, if such fate be ours," said Oriel Porphyry, -much moved by the devotion of his young friend. "But I see no reason to -despair yet. The gallant Albatross bears it bravely; and, unless we lose -the masts, or ship one of these overwhelming seas, we shall ride into -port by to-morrow, or the next day at latest. But this is childish of -you, Zabra, to give way to such feelings. You behaved not in this way -when we were fighting side by side amid the pirates. Come, come! be more -like yourself; and when the storm is over, which I hope will soon be, -you shall laugh at these apprehensions; and you shall sing me one of -your stirring songs, all about the glory and the freedom to be found -upon the mighty waters of the deep; and I shall be enraptured, and you -will rejoice." - -Zabra raised his head, shook back the clustering curls that shadowed his -face, and looked earnestly upon his patron. - -"I will do as you wish me," he replied. "I have been wrong in -disturbing your contemplations with my foolish fears: but, however -proud the heart may be,--however great, and brave, and noble be all its -tendencies,--there comes a time when all superiority and all valour are -lost in a sense of overpowering humility and apprehension. But, hark! -The elements are again let loose upon us. Hear how the wind howls, like -a lion roaring for his prey! And look at this mountain of water sweeping -up to ingulf us within its dark devouring jaws. Cling to the mast, -Oriel! cling to the mast! or you will be swept into the sea." - -Oriel Porphyry held one arm tightly round the waist of Zabra: with the -other he grasped the mainmast, as the towering billow, forced onward -by a violent gust of wind, broke on the deck, carrying away two of the -sailors, who were inattentive to its advance, and pouring through every -opening into the lower parts of the ship. - -"A man overboard!" was the immediate cry: but the vessel was proceeding -at so rapid a rate, that no effort could be made to save them. When the -fury of the tempest had abated, the two friends descended to the cabin; -where Oriel, observing that Zabra seemed ill and faint, wanted him -to take such refreshment as his exhausted frame needed, and tried to -strengthen the effect of his command by setting before him a good -example. A long fast, and the excitement of danger, continued for such -a period of time, required nourishment; and the young merchant seemed -desirous of showing his companion that his fatigues had not spoiled his -appetite; but though he pressed him frequently to partake liberally of -the different things he had ordered for him, he could not induce him to -follow his directions to any thing like the extent he desired. In fact, -Zabra appeared to have suffered too much from the state of feeling in -which he had existed during the recent tempest to be able to realise the -kind wishes of his patron. - -"My dear Zabra you are not well," observed Oriel Porphyry, finding his -endeavours and example so little attended to. "You look perfectly -exhausted. Go to your hammock and endeavour to sleep off your fatigues. -If I do not see that you take proper care of yourself, I shall deserve -censure from Eureka. So if you do not wish to get me into trouble, you -will do as I desire you." - -"She will not blame you," murmured his youthful associate, as he -proceeded to his little cabin. - -"What an extraordinary creature he is!" he exclaimed, as soon as Zabra -had left him; and he was reflecting upon the cause of that mystery in -which the character of his youthful friend seemed enveloped, when he was -disturbed by the entrance of the two philosophers. Fortyfolios looked -somewhat paler than usual, nor did Tourniquet appear quite at his ease. -They had also suffered from the effects of the storm, though neither of -them had appeared on deck while it lasted. - -"It is extraordinary to me, Dr. Tourniquet," said the professor gravely, -as he entered the cabin--"It is extraordinary to me that you will argue -from wrong premises." - -"It is as extraordinary to me that you will argue to wrong conclusions, -don't you see," replied the surgeon good humouredly. - -"What is the matter in dispute now, gentlemen?" inquired the young -merchant. - -"We differ in our ideas concerning the true nature of happiness," -responded Fortyfolios. "Now, I maintain that happiness consists in -virtue; for there can be no true happiness without the existence of -virtuous inclinations; and virtue is but another name for purity--a -state of being perfectly free from the pollution of vice." - -"And I maintain a very different sort of thing altogether, don't you -see," replied the doctor. "But first of all let us examine the idea that -happiness consists in virtue--by which I suppose is meant that virtue -produces happiness. There are a thousand instances of virtuous people -being as miserable as a bear with his fur shaved off. One from -disappointed love--another from the death of a friend or relative, -and a third from constitutional irritability. One finds misery in the -past--another meets with it in the present--a third looks for it in the -future; and although all these are virtuous in the common acceptation of -the word, they are far from being happy, don't you see. But there is a -stronger case against the argument that virtue produces happiness in -the instance of----Suppose a noble spirited youth, or an amiable and -excellent girl, who may be, in thought or action, the beau ideals of -virtue, yet if they are disgraced in their own eyes by their near -relationship to individuals notorious for some degrading vice, their -very notions of virtue create in them a continual misery. They have done -no evil, yet they are ashamed of themselves--they have a most decided -inclination for sincerity; and yet, knowing that if the world knew of -their connection with vice, they would be considered to be vicious as a -natural consequence (for such is the unjust conduct of the world), they -are obliged to practise deception; and the practice of deception soon -becomes habitual--they deceive all around them. Their principles are -thus continually warring with their actions; and the dread of their -deceit being discovered, and the disgrace which attaches to them -becoming known, creates a state of misery not easily to be exceeded." - -"But I cannot imagine such a state of things," remarked Oriel Porphyry. -"No child can be made answerable for the criminality of its relatives; -and a well educated mind will care little for an opinion by which it is -sought to be degraded, if that opinion is unjust." - -"Certainly," observed the professor approvingly. - -"We must take society as we find it, don't you see," added the doctor, -"with all its prejudices and all its injustice. If the circle in which -moves a youth of either sex, whose conduct is irreproachable and whose -motives are admirable, discover that the father of their young associate -was hanged for murder, or that the mother was noted for profligacy, they -will shrink from him as if he was as vile as his origin; but to the -young female this sort of connection bears with a most cruel severity. -There are many children born out of wedlock, of mothers of infamous -characters, which the father, who may be of a somewhat higher rank of -life, with a laudable anxiety for the welfare of his offspring, takes -from the mother and educates. Imagine a child thus originated, carefully -instructed in virtuous principles till she approaches the period of -womanhood, when, with the knowledge of her mother's infamy, she ventures -into a society in which her beauty and intelligence would render her one -of its best ornaments, she is acutely sensitive of her own disgraceful -position in the eyes of the world, and enters into companionship with -individuals of her own sex whom she is well aware would consider -themselves contaminated by her presence if they knew her secret; or -becomes beloved by a youth of the other sex, who, thinking her what she -appears to be, honours her above all human beings, with a continual -dread that the truth will be disclosed, and that she will be pointed -at, avoided, insulted, and abandoned by those now so eager to seek her -society. There is no state of misery so deplorable as this. In time, the -constant anxiety and fear in which she exists will affect her health, -and she gradually wastes away with the bitter consciousness that she is -the victim of a prejudice: although perfectly innocent, is punished as -if she was the vilest of criminals; and, although formed to diffuse -happiness around her, is obliged, from day to day, to endure the -crushing agonies of an unceasing misery. And this is an example of -virtue without happiness, don't you see." - -"But possibly the dread of insult, or a sense of shame," continued the -doctor, "prevents her from entering the society in which she ought to -find an honourable place. She is confined to a narrow circle, out of -which she dare not step, and is obliged to associate with the worthless -of her own sex and the profligate of the other. Her companions are the -vulgar and the vile. They having no proper conception of the value of -either truth or virtue, and she looking on the world that has abandoned -her as unjust, and smarting under the wrong it inflicts, begins to -think them as much ill treated as herself, and believes that a false -interpretation has been given to their conduct. Gradually she parts with -her conviction of what is honourable. One by one she acquires the mean -and contemptible vices of her associates. She sees them dissimulate, -and practises deception. Falsehood becomes habitual. She loses all -self-respect. She becomes criminal, degraded, and depraved. In fact, by -an atrocious verdict, she is at first considered one of the very Pariahs -of society, don't you see, and is at last forced to be the vile thing -the world had thought her." - -"The prejudice which so punishes is a disgrace to any civilised -community," exclaimed Oriel with warmth, "and the laws which press so -cruelly upon natural children are both impolitic and inhuman." - -"They are undoubtedly severe," observed Fortyfolios; "but their severity -is caused by the detestation of society for vice." - -"That I deny," eagerly replied Tourniquet. "Change the condition of the -child. Suppose it to be the offspring of a prince; and, although the -mother be a sink of iniquity, the girl will be eagerly sought after -by honourables and right honourables, most nobles, and others that -entertain the highest notions about virtue. So much for the community's -detestation of vice, don't you see. Now for my conception of the true -nature of happiness. I consider happiness, in the first place, to be -the result of a peculiar temperament. There must be a disposition to be -happy in the individual before any happiness can be created. In some -persons this disposition is so strong, that the most afflicting things -will scarcely, if at all, affect it; in others, the disposition is so -weak that it is continually overpowered by external circumstances; and -in others, the disposition is not to be traced, for it does not exist. -That virtue is necessary to a state of happiness there is no doubt; -but what is called virtue by different communities appears in so many -various shapes, that it requires a more catholic sense attached to it -than it possesses to make it universally understood. I consider virtue -to be a moderate indulgence in our inclinations when they do no injury -to the individual, to the object, and to any other person, with a -perfect and exclusive sympathy of an individual of one sex for an -individual of the other. Modesty is called a virtue, chastity is called -a virtue, and sobriety is called a virtue; but they are only distinct -features of the virtue I have described." - -"That is clearly enough defined; and I should think could not be -disputed," remarked Oriel. - -The professor said nothing. - -"Now this virtue does not create happiness any more than does the -virtue of my learned friend," continued the doctor; "but in by far the -majority of instances it is necessary to its existence. The happiness -that arises from alleviating suffering has often been found in an -individual possessing no pretensions to virtue. But happiness itself is -pleasure. There is the pleasure of creating enjoyment in an object, and -there is the pleasure which succeeds it in the individual. There never -was happiness without pleasure; there ought not to be pleasure without -happiness. There is no pleasure like that of doing good; consequently, -there is no happiness like that of making others happy: and wherever -there is a disposition to be happy, it will exhibit itself in a desire -to create happiness in others; and wherever there is no disposition to -be happy, the individual will be just as careless of the happiness of -those around him as he is regardless of his own. That's my idea of -happiness, don't you see." - -"And it appears to me a very rational one," observed the young merchant. -"But how does the disposition to happiness arise?" - -"There are some very curious phenomena connected with the origin and -growth of these dispositions," replied the surgeon. "In the first -place, all dispositions are formed in the individual by the pressure of -external circumstances, no matter how or from whence directed: evil -dispositions and good, and they arise at different times and sometimes -in succession. When created, they set with a certain impetus in a -certain direction; and as in these the extremes meet, if another impetus -is given, they will proceed from bad to good to the same distance they -advanced from good to bad. This is the cause of individuals having been -notorious for vice becoming eminent for virtue. Water flowing from the -top of a mountain is capable by its own power of finding its level on a -mountain of a similar elevation; and the impetus of vice being carried -down a certain way ascends by the impetus of good a like height. This -accounts for the old proverb, 'The greater the sinner the greater the -saint;' that is to say, the force in one produces a like force in the -other. Again, the disposition to love has frequently been followed by -the disposition to hate, as nearly as possible to the same extent; and -the disposition to happiness may as frequently be succeeded by the -disposition to misery." - -"But supposing the impetus to be carried down, it will want the -application of no other power to carry it up; and if carried up, will -unassisted carry itself down," remarked the professor. - -"Not so," replied the doctor: "Evil is of a heavy nature; and when it -descends, clings to the soil at the bottom, unless it receive another -impetus: and good is of a light nature, that naturally rises, and when -it has attained its highest elevation would there remain, were it not -sent down with a similar force." - -"The idea is ingenious, certainly," said the young merchant. - -"And that is all the merit it possesses," observed Fortyfolios, whose -more orthodox notions could not tolerate such an hypothesis. "Were such -a theory generally adopted, its mischief would be incalculable. It would -loosen our sense of the moral obligations, and utterly destroy all the -established ideas of right and wrong." - -"As for the moral obligations, don't you see," replied Tourniquet, "I -am perfectly convinced that it would place them on a much more secure -footing than they now possess; and if established notions on the subject -are erroneous, which I can prove them to be, the sooner they are knocked -on the head the better. I have already shown to you, in the instance -of the natural child, that the idea of virtue in the community is very -vague, unsettled, and unphilosophical, and creates more mischief than it -does good; and if we take the ideas of the same principle existing at -different times and in different communities, we shall find even this -confusion worse confounded. Things the most opposite to the true -character of virtue have been considered worthy of general adoption as -virtues. Thieving has existed as a virtue; drunkenness has existed as -a virtue; profligacy has existed as a virtue; murder has existed as a -virtue; and many others of the most abominable vices have, at various -intervals, with various people, been practised, avowed, and defended, -as if they were the most admirable of virtues. It is not many centuries -since the natives, on the coast of Guinea, and the inhabitants of other -countries, were taught to steal, and the cleverest thief was an object -of as much admiration among them as the most virtuous member of the -community; but there is no necessity to go to a state of barbarism for -an illustration of the honour with which dishonesty has been regarded; -for in all speculations, in all trading dealings, in all gambling -transactions, and in all appropriations of property acquired by one -party from another by a certain cunning or skill, of which the other -is not possessed, there is nothing else but stealing; and yet a person -acquiring property by such means is generally thought to be respectable, -and respectability is considered a virtue." - -"I am afraid, if your argument be true, that there is but little real -honesty in the world," remarked Oriel. - -"It is as I have stated," replied the doctor. "I have read of states -in which the man who could swallow some half a dozen bottles of wine, -and make his friends follow his example--in other words, a man who -practised habitual intoxication--had the reputation of being 'a good -fellow,' when amongst the same people goodness was considered virtue; -but even at the present day, in some parts of the world, intemperance -is regarded as a thing to be applauded rather than censured, although -it is not only a vice, but being the most direct channel to all other -vices ought to be held in detestation as the most vicious of evil -inclinations." - -Oriel Porphyry thought of the scene he had witnessed at Canton; but he -smiled, and said nothing. - -"With regard to the next of these vices which are considered as -virtues," continued the doctor, "there are few so destructive to -happiness. What is vulgarly called virtue in the government or -indulgence of the affections, in a majority of instances, should go by -an opposite name. It is upon record, that a certain king of Ashantee was -possessed of 3333 wives: other monarchs have been equally affectionate -towards their female subjects; and it is very rare, indeed, to find -these potentates, even with the wise king Solomon at their head, -possessing any pretensions to this identical virtue; and yet they have -been honoured more than the most virtuous character in their dominions. -But I maintain that all marriages against the inclination of one or both -parties, such as those formed for convenience, from state policy, or by -the authority of parents and guardians, is a state of absolute vice; and -yet the individuals so existing are regarded as if living in a state of -perfect virtue." - -"Undoubtedly they live in a state of perfect virtue as long as they have -no vicious inclinations," said the professor. - -"But it frequently happens that one of these parties has entertained -an inclination for another before marriage," replied Tourniquet. "An -inclination perfectly virtuous, but circumstances over which either -have no control, force them into a marriage, and then in the opinion of -the world that inclination (which is rarely destroyed) is considered -vicious, though perfectly virtuous in itself, and the state in which -the individual exists, against his or her inclination, is considered -virtuous, though perfectly vicious in itself, because it tends either -to destroy the virtuous inclination, or if that inclination is indulged -under those circumstances, it creates a state of things which is just -as far removed from virtue. The same species of vice is created by an -inclination after marriage--which is likely to occur when the marriage -has taken place without an inclination." - -"At one time the punishment used to be very severe for endeavouring to -effect a marriage or a similar state of things against the inclination -of one of the parties," remarked the young merchant. "And I imagine that -if the mis-marriages to which you have alluded were punished after the -same fashion, both the public morals and the public happiness would be -much increased." - -"No doubt of it, don't you see," responded the doctor. "And now for -an examination of the manner in which murder has been regarded. About -a thousand years since there was a religious community in India who -practised murder as a virtue. They were called Thugs, and after long -watching for an opportunity, with abundance of prayers and other holy -ceremonies, they fell upon their victims and strangled them with a cord. -Previous to this, there arose a military and religious order in Persia, -called Assassins, who stabbed or poisoned in secrecy and without shame; -and by both these communities murder was practised as the highest kind -of virtue. But they were not the only people who entertained similar -notions. The heathens murdered the Christians, and the Christians -slaughtered the heathens. The Catholics destroyed heretics, and heretics -waged a religious war upon one another. The Mahometans killed Jews or -Christians, or any other sect not professing their form of faith; and -the Jews, Christians, and others, retaliated to the best of their -ability; and under the name of religion nearly all religious sects have -murdered by wholesale, and, practising this inhuman vice, each party has -conceived that they were exhibiting the highest kind of virtue. But at -the present day, murder in a variety of shapes exists, and is regarded -as a virtue of a very high order. Even in an offender, the destruction -of human life is murder, unless, which is a very extreme case, it be -impossible for the security of society, to allow the offender to exist; -yet the sanguinary executions that disgrace the penal codes of many -communities, boasting a superior degree of civilisation, is called -justice, which is but another name for virtue. Killing a man in a duel -is murder. All warfare is murder; yet he who distinguishes himself most -in the destruction of those to whom he is opposed is honoured as being -peculiarly brave--and bravery is considered a virtue." - -"Occasions arise when warfare is absolutely necessary," said Oriel -Porphyry; "and I cannot help the conviction, that the man who signalises -himself in the defence of his country, and in the destruction of his -enemies, is entitled to rank with the most virtuous characters." - -"Certainly," observed Fortyfolios. - -"With regard to wars being necessary, don't you see, in the present -state of the world they may be," replied the surgeon. "But in an -improved order of things they would not be required, for then the force -of opinion would be much more effective than the force of arms; and as -to the superior character of valour, although few can admire heroic -actions more than myself, I know that the courage by which they are -created is an impulse which may exist to the same extent in the -savage and in the brute. This is not necessary to virtue, for in some -organisations the want of physical energy renders the existence and the -exhibition of martial courage impossible; and it is not produced by -virtue, for it is often found existing in persons of the most vicious -inclinations. Now I think I have said enough to show the want of -clearness in the ideas of virtue that have existed and do exist in the -world, and the danger which must arise from attempting to build any -happiness upon so insecure a foundation." - -"I differ with you _in toto_," exclaimed the professor, with more than -his usual seriousness. "And glad I am that such is the case; for your -heathenish theories are destructive of every religious principle that -the human mind possesses." - -"Pish!" muttered the doctor. - -"It is an argument, the tendency of which goes directly to level all -the existing distinctions between right and wrong, and to weaken the -influence of those sacred truths which have been professed by mankind -for so many generations," continued Fortyfolios. - -"Bah!" exclaimed Tourniquet. - -"You may profess what opinions you please," he added; "but the opinions -on which multitudes of people rest their expectations of future -happiness ought not to be disturbed by the contemplation of such vain -and idle speculations as those in which you indulge." - -"Nonsense, don't you see," said the other. - -"I tell you, Dr. Tourniquet, it is rank atheism," exclaimed the -professor, rather warmly. - -"I tell you, Professor Fortyfolios, you're a goose," replied his -antagonist. - -"As usual, gentlemen, your argument ends in a dispute," observed Oriel -Porphyry. "But you must excuse me for the present. I am really tired -out, and have been yawning in a manner that would have silenced any -disputants less eager than yourselves. I shall go to my berth, which -example I should advise you to follow; and let us hope that the terrible -monsoon will allow us some repose." - -The philosophers took the advice that was offered; and in less than half -an hour all three were fast asleep in their hammocks. - - - - -CHAP. IX. - -GAME LAWS IN INDIA. - - -"Pooh, pooh! Come and hunt. Come and hunt. There is no use in looking -after a parcel of buildings, and running to see sights: now you are in -this part of the country you ought to enjoy the pleasures it affords. -Come and hunt, man. Come and hunt." - -This was said by a fine, stout, middle-aged man, dressed in a light jean -jacket and full lower garments of a similar fabric, with a very broad -brimmed hat of fine straw, which he was then putting on. Although -his complexion was sallow, his features were lively and intelligent; -and there was a bluff, free, careless manner with him that seemed -particularly agreeable to his companions. They were in a handsome -chamber with an open veranda, through which the slight breeze that -was stirring, entered; and the furniture, though rather faded, still -possessed an air of elegance. Wines, fruits, and sweetmeats were on a -large table in the centre, near which Oriel Porphyry and the speaker -stood. Zabra was leaning over the back of a cane-bottomed seat, watching -the motions of a lizard crawling up part of the framework of the -veranda. Fortyfolios was busily engaged endeavouring to beat off several -mosquitoes that seemed to have taken a fancy to his bald head; and Dr. -Tourniquet was examining the tusk of an elephant that lay, with several -skins, in a corner of the room. - -"Ah, but, Sir Curry Rajah," replied the young merchant, "when you kindly -invited us to your country house, I told you our stay could be but -brief. The period I intended to pass with you has elapsed; and though -delighted with your hospitality, I must really be thinking of my -departure." - -"Nonsense, nonsense!" exclaimed his host. "You wo'n't be thinking of any -thing of the kind. There is no business waiting for you. My people in -the city will take care that every thing you required shall be shipped -safely without loss of time; and, therefore, there can be no occasion -for your troubling your young brains about profit and loss for a day or -two at least. Come and hunt, I tell you. Come and hunt." - -"Is there any good hunting in this part of the world, then?" inquired -Oriel. - -"Hunting! The best hunting in the universe," replied Sir Curry Rajah. -"I've got the finest preserves in all India." - -"And what game have you?" asked his visitor. - -"Game?--Game of all kinds, and plenty of it; especially tigers," -responded the other. - -"Tigers!" exclaimed the young merchant in so loud a voice that his -companions started with surprise. "Why, what could induce you to -preserve such animals?" - -"The sport, to be sure, man," replied Sir Curry; "and we are obliged to -be very strict in the application of our game laws; for the rascally -poachers will often destroy the game." - -"I should think the game more likely to destroy the poachers," observed -his guest with a smile. - -"That's their look out," said the other. "I only know it's a most -difficult thing to preserve tigers. My tenants shoot them if they happen -to attack their flocks; and the peasants combine to kill them, for -the purpose of procuring their skins. But our game laws punish the -scoundrels severely if they are caught in the fact--imprisonment and -hard labour for every offence, and very just these laws are. Why, -gentlemen would have no sport if they were to allow their game to be cut -up by every fellow who has a desire for sport, or thinks his life or the -lives of his cattle of more value than a tiger. I have been at great -expense with my preserves; for the animal has long been exceedingly -scarce: and I have improved the breed a great deal by importing some new -varieties. The cross which has ensued has altered the game wonderfully. -They are infinitely more savage, far more daring, and in speed and -cunning are not to be excelled. In fact, my tigers have a reputation -all over the country; and the ablest hunters are very glad to get a -day's sport with me, as they know they will meet with the best tigers -that are to be found any where." - -"And how do you hunt them?" inquired Oriel. - -"On elephants principally," replied Sir Curry. "The hunter sits upon -an elephant, with an air gun, fixed upon a swivel, before him. These -animals are well trained. I've got some of the finest elephants in the -world, thorough-bred--and they go into the preserve, and rouse the tiger -from his cover. If he goes off, the elephant follows; if he shows fight, -the hunter fires: and sometimes the game is not killed till fine sport -has been enjoyed--a man or two killed, and other exciting pleasures -enjoyed." - -"And did these skins belong to animals of your killing?" inquired -Tourniquet, who had been an attentive listener to the conversation, as -he turned over two or three large tiger skins. - -"Yes, I killed them, and fine sport they gave," said his host. "That -one you have in your hand belonged to a noble fellow. The day in which -he was killed was a memorable one. My late neighbour, Lord Muligatawny, -was very proud of his preserves, and used to boast he had the best -tigers in India. So to take the conceit out of his lordship, I invited -him to a hunt on my grounds. Well, he came on his elephant, for he -enjoyed the sport as much as any man, and we proceeded together with our -attendants to a jungle in which I knew the greatest quantity of game was -to be found. He and I kept close together, he boasting all the time of -the superiority of his preserves, till as we entered this particular -place, I thought it would be most advisable to be at a short distance -from him, so we separated, but without my losing sight of him. Now Lord -Muligatawny used a peculiar kind of snuff-box, and was a fierce looking -sort of man; and he used to say that no tiger could ever look him in the -face. He said the brute always bolted when he tried the experiment. -Well, we saw lots of game, and had some capital sport, but as we were -proceeding along in high spirits at our success, I started a magnificent -animal. I had a shot at him, but was not near enough to do him any -mischief. As the tiger was stealing off towards Lord Muligatawny, he -fired; but whether it was his mismanagement of the gun, or proceeded -from his elephant's suddenly backing at the approach of the tiger, I -cannot say; but certain it is Lord Muligatawny was tumbled off his -elephant, and in another moment the tiger was upon him. 'Now we shall -see if the tiger will bolt,' thought I; and he did bolt: but he bolted -with Lord Muligatawny! He grasped his lordship by the nape of his neck -at the time he was looking as fierce as a ferret, and flinging his body -over his shoulder, he was out of sight before any one could get a shot -at him." - -"And what became of him?" inquired Oriel. - -"That was the last we ever saw of Lord Muligatawny," replied Sir Curry. -"But about a week afterwards I was hunting in the neighbourhood, when, -after a capital run, and a desperate contest, I succeeded in killing one -of the finest tigers I ever saw. I had his body taken home to show him -to my friends, and upon opening him, among the best part of a sheep, -a dog's hind quarters, and a litter of sucking pigs, we found the -identical snuff-box of poor Lord Muligatawny, proving beyond the -possibility of a doubt that not only had the tiger bolted _with_ his -lordship, but that he had had the audacity to make a bolt _of_ him. But -come and hunt--come and hunt--I will show you some capital sport." - -"Such as you showed Lord Muligatawny, I suppose," said the young -merchant, laughing. - -"Oh no, there's no danger," replied his host; and then taking an air-gun -of a peculiar construction towards his visitor, added, "Now, look at -this weapon--one of the best of the kind ever made. This is fixed on a -swivel in the carriage in which you sit on the elephant; and you are -quite safe, and, if you are a tolerable marksman, are sure to wound your -game. Besides this, the hunter generally has a strong short sword, like -this," said he, producing a weapon of that description. "Very sharp and -very useful too, for if the tiger leaps on the elephant, which he will -frequently do, the hunter with a good blow at his head may settle his -business. Come and hunt, man, come and hunt." - -"Confound these mosquitoes!" exclaimed the professor in a rage, vainly -endeavouring to drive the insects from about him, and making the most -ludicrous grimaces, as in spite of his exertions they succeeded in -biting the exposed part of his head. "These horrible things will torment -me to death. Ever since I have been in this deplorable country, my head -has been besieged by thousands of them. They don't let me rest a minute. -Ah! What a gripe! I shall go mad! They'll torment me to death; I can't -endure it, Sir Curry." - -"You'll soon get used to it," said his host, quietly. "This is the way -they always use strangers. You are fresh meat to them. But come and -hunt--come and hunt; I'll have the elephants got ready for you -immediately, and it's a capital day for the sport." - -"What say you, gentlemen? Shall we hunt the tiger?" asked Oriel -Porphyry. - -"I would rather you would hunt the musquitoes," said Fortyfolios, -seriously. - -"What say you, Zabra?" - -"If you wish it, Oriel," replied the youth. - -"I have not the slightest objection, don't you see," observed the -doctor. - -"Then let it be, Sir Curry," said Oriel. - -Orders were instantly given to the servants, a crowd of dark Hindoos, -in white turbans, short frocks fastened round the middle with a sash, -and with bare arms and legs, who lost no time in making the necessary -preparations. - -Three elephants were caparisoned and led round to the front of the -house. Sir Curry mounted the largest, and Fortyfolios and Tourniquet, -after some trouble, managed to get firm sitting on another. While these -preparations were making, Zabra had been amusing himself by feeding the -remaining elephant with sweetmeats. She was a small but exceedingly -docile animal; and seemed to enjoy the sort of food with which she was -indulged with a particular gusto, swinging her body with a regular -oscillatory movement, and twisting her trunk up and down with ceaseless -activity. The order having been given her to kneel, the two friends -mounted; and, accompanied by a few attendants, skilful in the management -of the hunt, the party moved forward into an open park, in which several -blue-skinned buffaloes and humped bullocks, with here and there a few -deer, were seen endeavouring to find a cool place in the shadows of the -trees. The day was excessively hot; and the oppressive sultriness of -the atmosphere seemed to be felt by every living thing, except the -mosquitoes, who flew about in myriads, plaguing both man and beast. In -passing a large tank the cattle were frequently seen rushing into it, -where they would remain with nothing but their noses above the water, -in hopes of escaping from those tormenting insects; but Fortyfolios -appeared to be the especial object of their attacks, for his hands were -constantly employed in trying to drive them from his face. They passed -many clumps of lofty cocoa-nut trees, in which troops of monkeys were -skipping about from branch to branch, and chattering at the hunters -with more volubility than harmony; and, after proceeding along fields of -rice, indigo, and Indian corn, surrounded by hedges of aloes and bamboo, -they approached a marsh, watered by a branch of the Ganges, in which -several large crocodiles, troops of adjutants, and different species of -snakes were observed. - -"There's plenty of game here, you see!" remarked Sir Curry to his -companions. "But it's wonderful the difficulty I have to preserve it; -poaching prevails to a great extent in spite of the severity of our game -laws." - -No reply was made to the observation; and the party passed on, -making their way with great difficulty through a forest of banyans, -occasionally taking a shot at a stray jackal or a wandering vulture, -till they descended a steep declivity, overgrown with thick underwood, -over which trees of immense proportions spread their gigantic branches. - -"Now we shall soon beat up the game," said Sir Curry: "we are entering a -famous preserve of tigers. About half a mile further in the jungle we -shall come to the very place where I lost poor Lord Muligatawny. Very -interesting spot." - -Fortyfolios at least did not seem to care for the interest of the place, -and he regretted ever having left the safe quarters of Sir Curry Rajah's -country-house, to wander on the back of an elephant through marshes, and -forests, and jungles, infested with every species of venomous and savage -creatures. - -"I cannot see what pleasure there can be in exposing one's life in -this way. It's the most foolish thing I ever heard of," said he to his -companion. - -"The ancients were much greater fools, don't you see," replied -Tourniquet. "They would break their necks after a wretched fox." - -"But the fox couldn't eat the hunter, and the tiger can," added the -other seriously. - -"Then there is the greater necessity for killing the tiger, don't you -see," rejoined the doctor. - -"But why not exterminate the breed? They must be very destructive to the -flocks and herds as well as to human beings who happen to fall in their -way; yet this man actually preserves them for the sake of the sport they -afford," said the professor, with unfeigned astonishment. - -"Just so did the ancients with their foxes," replied his companion. -"They were very destructive to the poultry of the neighbouring farmers; -they were perfectly worthless; their skins were of no value, and their -flesh not eatable; yet they were carefully preserved for the sport they -afforded." - -"A tiger!" exclaimed Sir Curry, who was a little in advance of the -party, as he pointed to some animal, the form of which could not be -clearly distinguished, stealing through the high grass and reeds with -which they were surrounded. Several shots were fired at him; but he -bounded away as if unhurt, and the elephants proceeded in pursuit. - -"A tiger!" again shouted their host, and another was observed making -off in a contrary direction; but he escaped before a gun could be -discharged. - -Oriel Porphyry began to feel a little excited, and took more interest -in the hunt than he had previously experienced. - -"Oh!" exclaimed Fortyfolios, as loud as he could scream; and, upon -looking round to observe what was the matter, the hunters beheld a large -monkey, as the professor was passing underneath the branch of a tree, -swinging by his tail, dart down, and snatch the straw hat that -Fortyfolios wore to shield his head from the sun's rays, with which he -made an immediate retreat, grinning and chattering among his companions -as if congratulating himself on the cleverness by which he had acquired -the prize. The whole troop were immediately in commotion, scrambling -with one another for possession of the spoil; till the thief, finding he -was likely to lose the result of his dexterity, placed the hat on his -own head, and darted off, from branch to branch, with inconceivable -rapidity, pursued by the other monkeys with a chorus of yells absolutely -deafening. - -Fortyfolios looked the very picture of mute despair when he found his -bald head exposed to the attacks of the relentless mosquitoes, and -was obliged to bind it with a handkerchief. His disquietude did not -decrease, when, a few paces farther on, his eyes fell upon the form of a -monstrous snake, twined round the stem of an immense tree, which, with -arched head, glaring eyes, and protruded sting, seemed about to spring -upon the unhappy professor. - -"Plenty of game here, gentlemen; capital preserve," observed Sir Curry -very coolly. - -"Heaven preserve me!" emphatically exclaimed Fortyfolios, trembling in -every joint. - -Tourniquet fired at the monster, and he immediately glided away into the -deepest recesses of the jungle. - -"A tiger!" shouted Sir Curry, as one made its appearance within a few -yards of his elephant. Oriel fired, and hit him. Sir Curry fired at the -same time, and lodged a bullet in his shoulder. The animal, smarting -with the pain and howling with rage, made a spring at Sir Curry, which -brought him within reach of his "tiger-slayer," as he called it; and a -ferocious blow, well directed, sent him with another howl to the feet of -the elephant, who kept him between her hind legs and her fore legs till -she had kicked him to death. - -"Fine beast!" said Sir Curry Rajah, noticing its size; "but this place -is famous for such game. By the bye, this is the identical spot in which -I lost poor Lord Muligatawny. He was sitting on his elephant just where -sits our friend the professor----" - -"Oh!" groaned Fortyfolios. - -"When he fell into the jaws of the tiger." - -The professor shuddered and looked very pale. - -"A tiger!" shouted Sir Curry. - -"Murder!" screamed Fortyfolios; and if Tourniquet had not laid hold of -him he would have tumbled off his seat. - -"I'm surprised a man of your sense should show so much fear, don't you -see," observed the doctor. - -"It is not fear, Doctor Tourniquet," replied the professor, endeavouring -to conceal his alarm with all the philosophy he possessed. "I do not -care about death, but I have a reasonable objection to being devoured. -As for the quality, impression, or emotion, which is usually called -fear, in a philosophical sense, I deny that in me it has ever had -existence." - -"A tiger!" again shouted Sir Curry. - -"Murder!" again screamed the professor; and he trembled so violently -that he caught hold of the framework of the seat to secure his position -on the elephant. The game now became very plentiful; and the hunt was -followed from one jungle through open vistas into another. Oriel entered -into the pursuit with ardour, but Zabra did not appear to join in it -with the least interest. He seemed to entertain the same objection to -being devoured as Fortyfolios, or else his anxiety for the safety of his -companion destroyed all pleasure in the chase. He became restless and -uneasy; but Oriel was so actively engaged in looking for and despatching -the game, that he did not notice the disquietude of his friend. They had -killed several tigers; and, having pursued a very large one out of the -jungle into an open valley, he there made a stand before a large banyan -tree. The hunters surrounded him, and he was crouching, lashing himself -with his tail, and preparing for a spring, as they approached. As soon -as they came within shooting distance, Oriel, Sir Curry, and Dr. -Tourniquet, fired; instantly, with a low half-stifled growl, the tiger -gave two or three prodigious bounds, and leaped upon the elephant upon -which Zabra was sitting; and immediately afterwards both were rolling -together among the long grass. The elephant, as soon as she observed -Zabra's danger, as if in gratitude for the attentions she had received -from him before starting for the hunt, turned round and ran at the tiger -as if with the intention of trampling him down. The young merchant, in -the anguish of the moment, at seeing his friend in the power of the -ferocious beast, had at first lost his presence of mind, but observing -that the elephant had succeeded in drawing the attention of the tiger -from his victim, he slipped off her back, and, with no other weapon -than his hunting sword, advanced to the place where the animal stood. -The elephant had made two or three rushes at the tiger, but had not -succeeded in getting him under her feet, and he was still crouching -beside the prostrate body of Zabra, when he observed the approach of -Oriel. - -"Let me have a shot at him, Master Porphyry," exclaimed his host. - -"You will be killed, don't you see, if you attack him with such a -useless weapon?" shouted Tourniquet. Oriel still advanced with his sword -firmly grasped, his arm raised, and his gaze fixed upon that of the -tiger. The savage beast curved his back and lashed his tail; his fur -became erect, and his eyes seemed flashing with an expression of the -most terrible ferocity. Oriel Porphyry still moved forward; and as the -tiger, with a low sharp growl, made a bound towards him, he leaped on -one side, and turning quickly round dealt a blow with all his force, -that severed the tendons of the animal's leg, as he reached the ground. -The brute howled with pain, and rushed with open mouth upon his -antagonist. The wound he had received prevented him from making a -spring, but he dashed furiously forward upon three legs, with looks -intent upon mischief. - -At this instant, the elephant made a rush at the tiger, and tumbled him -over to a considerable distance. Oriel again advanced towards him; and -lashing himself into a fiercer rage, the wounded beast prepared to dig -his claws and teeth into the body of his pursuer; but the young merchant -avoided all the desperate attempts the savage creature made to fasten -upon him, and inflicted upon his head and legs several severe wounds; -then, watching his opportunity, he brought down the sword with all his -strength upon his skull, and the tiger fell dead at his feet. - -When he turned round to hasten to Zabra's assistance, he found the -elephant trying to raise him from the ground with her trunk: and she -seemed as much concerned at the accident as any person there, and moved -him as gently, and looked in his face as anxiously, as the tenderest -nurse could have done. - -"Bravely fought, Master Porphyry!" exclaimed Sir Curry. "I never saw -finer sport; and you have shown yourself one of the best hunters I ever -met with. You shall have the skin, for you've well deserved it." - -"Are you much hurt, my dear Zabra?" he anxiously inquired, without -attending to his host's commendations, as he bent over the prostrate -body of his friend. A low groan was all the reply he received. "Dr. -Tourniquet!" shouted Oriel: but the doctor was standing at his side, -having hastened to the spot when he saw that his services were likely to -be required. - -"See what can be done immediately," added the young merchant earnestly. -"I'm almost afraid the brute has killed him." - -"It's not so bad as that, don't you see, for he breathes," observed the -surgeon. - -"But his dress is all over blood; therefore he must have received some -dangerous wounds," added Oriel. "Here; I'll undo his vest; and then we -can see the extent of the injury he has received." - -"Oh, no!" said the doctor, unceremoniously pushing him away. - -"Doctor Tourniquet, you behave very strangely, I think," said the other, -seemingly much offended. - -"I beg pardon, Master Porphyry," responded the doctor, apparently with -much confusion; "but it would be very dangerous to meddle with the -wounds now, don't you see." - -"They surely ought to be dressed without loss of time," remarked the -young merchant. - -"The patient has received a severe shock; and the state of the -atmosphere, and--and not having with me things necessary to dress the -wound, and--and many other things, make it advisable that the patient -should be put to bed before his hurts are examined," said the doctor, -attempting to hide his perplexity as well as he could. - -"I must say, I think it very strange," observed Oriel, not being able -to account for the embarrassment under which the doctor was evidently -labouring. - -"No harm done, I hope?" inquired Sir Curry, as he approached upon his -elephant. "I should be sorry to have another Lord Muligatawny affair." - -"There's no knowing what harm has been done; for I really cannot get my -surgeon to ascertain," replied the young merchant. - -"No! ah! that's strange," responded his host: "I always like to know the -worst. It's a great consolation." - -"Let us get out of this horrid place, or we shall all be eaten up by -wild beasts," exclaimed Fortyfolios, who was sitting, disconsolate and -uneasy on the top of his elephant. - -"Such a thing might be. I've known several persons whose ardour in -pursuit of game has made them food for tigers," remarked Sir Curry. -"Poor Lord Muligatawny was only one instance out of many." - -"Oh!" groaned the professor. - -"See, he revives!" exclaimed the doctor, directing attention to his -patient, whose eyes were gently unclosing. - -"Zabra! my dear Zabra! are you better?" asked Oriel, as he supported his -young friend's head on his shoulder. - -Zabra looked about him with a wild stare, till his eyes fell upon the -elephant, who had all the time been an attentive spectator of the scene, -and then, as if remembering what he had suffered, he gave a slight -convulsive shudder, and sunk back into the arms of his patron. - -"The tiger is dead, Zabra!" exclaimed Oriel. - -"I wish all tigers were dead," muttered Fortyfolios. - -"I think we had better place the patient on yonder elephant, and I will -accompany him till we return from whence we set out, when he can have -his wounds dressed, don't you see," said Dr. Tourniquet, who had -recovered from his confusion. - -"Yes, send him forward with some of my people," added Sir Curry Rajah; -"and you come with me, Master Porphyry, and I'll show you a preserve -where the tigers are as thick as monkeys on a cocoanut tree." - -"I've had quite enough of tiger hunting, I thank you," replied Oriel -Porphyry, very seriously; then directing his attention to his young -friend, he exclaimed--"Zabra! are you better now?" - -The youth opened his long eye-lashes, and gazed upon his patron, as -if recognising his voice, and then in a low whisper said, "Yes, I am -better, Oriel." - -"Will you let Dr. Tourniquet examine your wounds, Zabra? We want to know -how much you are hurt." - -"Oh no! oh no!" he replied hastily, "Not now, not now, Oriel. Not now." - -"This is very strange," observed the young merchant, unable to find -a reason for an objection to a thing that seemed so requisite. "Very -strange--but you can let us know what injury you have received." - -"My back and arms are lacerated," responded Zabra. "But they do not pain -me so much as they did. Dr. Tourniquet shall see to them when I return, -and perhaps you can allow him to remain with me in case I should want -his assistance before. You can then return with the professor." - -Oriel Porphyry appeared surprised, but he gave orders to the -attendants, who had been unconcerned spectators of the scene; and, -having lifted Zabra upon the elephant, who seemed delighted to regain -his burthen, the whole party returned to the country house of Sir Curry -Rajah. - - - - -CHAP. X. - -ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE DANGER OF GOOD INTENTIONS. - - -"I tell you what it is, Boggle," said Climberkin to his friend, as they -were pacing the quarter-deck together, "You're al'ays getting yourself -into scrapes. You've got a notion as you can do things in the most tip -top manner, and you make a reg'lar mommock of every thin' you sets -about." - -"All I knows o' the matter is, that I likes to ha' 'ticular notions o' -things in general, as every man as is a man, and thinks like a man, -should," replied the other. "But I arn't such a stoop as to allow every -body to come his handy dandy sugarcandy over me. I knows a marlin spike -from a gun carriage." - -"But there was no 'casion for you to 'noy the cap'ain by comin' the -high and mighty over his nevey," observed Climberkin. - -"Well, I did it for the best," responded his companion. "You see the -young chap arn't quite up to his dooty; so I thought, as I was his -superior officer, it was the most properest thing in natur for me to -tell him what's what. But I recomembered as young people has feelings, -and that it would be best to make my 'munication as pleasant as -possible; so the next time I comed alongside Mr. Midshipman Loop, I -says, quite delicately, says I, you're a lubberly young son of a sea -cow, as arn't fit to do nuffin but to count your fingers, or cut your -toe-nails. You're al'ays a skylarking arter some precious mischief or -another. No matter whether you're aloft among the reefers, or down -below, right-fol-de-dolin' at the mess, you're up to no sort o' good -whatsomdever. I arn't no patience wi' sich varmint; and if you don't -do your dooty in a less 'jectionable sort o' fashion, I'm pretty -considerably spiflicated if I don't make sich a report o' your -wagabondisings as shall make you catch more toko than you'll be able to -digest in a month. Well, instead of the fellow being grateful for the -handsome way in which I'd tried not to hurt none o' his feelins, he -looks at me w' as much water in his eyes as 'ould do to wash his face -in; and in a short time arterwards up comes the cap'ain, and gives me -sich a sittin' down as didn't leave me a leg to stand on." - -"You'd been too hard upon the young un," observed Climberkin: "there was -no necessity for speaking so sharp." - -"It's always the way I gets served out whenever I attempts to do a good -action," replied Boggle. "Nobody has better intentions nor I have; but, -somehow or another, whenever I've 'tempted to do a fellow a good turn, -the end on it is the treatment I meets wi' gives me sich a turn as puts -me into a perfect 'stonishment." - -"You don't go the right way to work, Boggle--that's it, depend on't," -replied his companion. - -"The right way!" exclaimed Boggle. "Why, I've been this way, and that -way, and t'other way--backards and forards--right and left--upside down -and round the corners; and I should like to know what other way there -is in this here univarsal world? No; the thing is this: there's a plank -started some where. Natur don't go right wi' me. I've had a deal o' -'sperience in my time, and every 'dividual thing has been sarved up to -me wi' the same sauce." - -"I should like to hear the long and the short o' your goin's on," said -Climberkin. - -"Why, as to that, I've a notion the whole circumbendibus o' my history -is as good as a sermon," replied the other. - -"Well, let's hear it then, Boggle, if you've no objection," added his -companion. - -"Then here goes, if you'll sit down on this gun; for, though I've heard -o' a standin' joke, I should think a standin' story would be rather a -tiresome sort o' thing. It's no matter when or where I was launched," -continued Boggle; "and about my parentage, its only necessary to say, -I had a father and a mother, like other folks. Well, in due time I was -bound a 'prentice to a ship's carpenter. I very early entertained a -desire to set people to rights as was goin' wrong. I thought there was -nuffin so pleasant as tryin' to do good, and I took hold of every -'portunity to benefit my fellow-creturs. Master was a punch-your-head -sort o' character, wi' one eye and a leg-o'-mutton fist; and missus was -a spirited little ooman, mighty famous in her way; but if you did get -in her way, she pretty soon made you get out of it. Well, when master -wasn't a punchin' my head, missus was a boxin' my ears; and when missus -wasn't a boxin' my ears, master was a punchin' my head; and when they -were tired o' sarvin' me out, they turned to and sarved each other out. -I led a lovely life, as you may suppose." - -"A dog would ha' been better off, I should think," observed Climberkin. - -"I had a heart overflowin' wi' the buttermilk o' human kindness," -continued the lieutenant; "and I didn't like sich a state o' things, no -how. I entertained a notion that the only way to change this here strife -was to endeavour to create feelin's o' love betwixt the parties; but how -to get 'em to like each other, instead of to lick each other, was the -difficulty. 'If I can make 'em believe each other's affection, I shall -make a reg'lar Cupid and physic business of it,' thought I. But how -could I make 'em believe? Where was the proof? I had always heard as -jealousy was a proof o' love; so I determined to make 'em as jealous as -was possible. Well, I took a 'casion to hint to master as missus was -unkimmonly amiable to Brisket, the butcher over the way; and, although -Brisket, the butcher over the way, warn't no more a object o' love nor a -rhinoceros, I could see master's one eye flashin' about like a bundle o' -crackers in a kitchen fire; and he told me to watch their canouvres -and 'municate to him any thing as was likely to interfere wi' his -conjugalities; and, as a more nor ordinary mark o' his 'preciation o' my -regard for his matrimonial blessedness, he took me a punch o' the head -twice as hard as ever he'd given me afore." - -"You had the luck of it!" remarked his companion. - -"Then I went to missus, and, in the most delicatest manner as could be, -I gave her to suppose that there was a monstrous deal o' improperiety -going forard betwixt master and Mrs. Brisket, the butcher's wife over -the way; and, although Mrs. Brisket, the butcher's wife over the way, -was about as good looking as a toad-fish, missus seemed quite done -brown o' both sides; and, tellin' me to gi' her due notice o' their -clandasterous proceedin's, she fetched me a box o' the ear, as made the -inside o' my head seem turned into curds and whey. Well, I continued -this sort o' game till, if jealousy be a proof o' love, they ought to -ha' been convinced beyond a doubt, and, as a matter o' course, should -have been as lovin' as turtle-doves: but, 'straordinary to relate, he -punched her head, and she boxed his ears, more earnestly than ever, all -the time throwing out 'sinuations that stirred each other up into the -most tarnationest fury. One unfortunit day, when I was workin' away in -the shop, and they were workin' away in the same place, they suddenly -stopped their hands to make use o' their tongues. - -"'I knows your goin's on over the way, you wretch,' squeaked missus. - -"'And I knows _your_ goin's on over the way, you trollope,' bawled -master. - -"'I'll kill that woman,' cried one. - -"'And I'll murder Brisket!' said the other. - -"'It's false, you villain! I defy you to prove your words. But you know -my suspicions are well founded,' exclaimed the wife. - -"'It's false, you hussy! and you know it,' shouted the husband. - -"'I had the intelligence from the best authority, sir.' - -"'I had mine from a source that dared not deceive me, madam.' - -"'Who told you?' was simultaneously asked by both; and 'Boggle!' was -the reply in almost the same breath. Immediately they turned upon me. I -could see master's eye lookin' at me as if he was about to walk down my -throat; and missus--but it's only necessary to say that I made a sudden -bolt between master's legs, managed to tumble him over her; and while -they were sprawlin' together, I was crossin' all manner o' streets, -at a pace that sent every body out o' my way. That was the end o' my -'prenticeship; and thus my good intentions were so 'bominably -frusterated." - -"And what did you do then?" inquired Climberkin. - -"I went to live wi' an uncle," replied Boggle. "He kept a -knife-and-forkery. Meat of all kinds, ready cooked, was waiting for the -hungry at any hour, with vegetables in season and out o' season; soups -of all sorts, and some of very strange sorts; with mustard, bread, -pepper, and salt. I continued at this business a considerable time, and -liked it much better nor the ship carpenterin'; and I gained a good many -'ticular notions o' things in general: indeed, I may say, without any -sinnivation against the sort o' meat we sold, as how I became a slap -bang judge o' horse-flesh. I still continued 'deavourin' to set things -right as was goin' t'other way; but the same sort o' fun al'ays happened -as when I 'tempted to make jealousy become a proof o' love: I got no -more gratitude nor would serve a flea to lie down upon. Well, it so -happened as our customers was frequently in the habit o' complainin' o' -dyspepsia. Every body had dyspepsia: long or short, little or big, fat -or lean, every mortal cretur talked o' nothin' else but his dyspepsia. -Some said it was all acause o' their diet, and they detarmined to make a -reg'lar change in their eatables; so havin' been used to nothin' else -but mutton and beef, they directly began to eat nothin' else but beef -and mutton. And some said it was one thing, and some said it was -another; and some said it was just exactly neither. Now, I knowed about -as much o' dyspepsia as I did o' the top o' the moon; but I seed as -there was a screw loose somewhere, and I was nat'rally anxious to put it -in proper order. So I got hold of a book as gived explanations in the -most popular incomprehensible manner about diet and regimen, and what -you should eat and what you shouldn't eat; and how much you might put in -your bread-room, and how much you might let alone; and there I met with -the whole complete circumbendibus about dyspepsia." - -"And what was it?" inquired his companion. - -"Why, I can't exactly say what it was," replied Boggle, "acause the -book didn't exactly tell me; but I found out as every fellow as had it -should be reg'lar as clock-work in his eatables, and should have no more -nor a sartain quantity at no time. So I began 'deavourin' to cure the -dyspepsia. I hadn't the power to make 'em reg'late their jaw tackle -accordin' to the book; but I took precious good care as every one should -have a sartain quantity. Whether a fellow could eat a horse, or hadn't -a appetite no more nor a blue bottle, I sarved 'em all wi' a sartain -quantity. Acause why? It was good for their dyspepsia. But they kicked -up such a bobbery! The big eaters got into a devourin' rage, and they -left the shop, swearing I was a tryin' to pick their pockets. Ungrateful -wretches! I was only a tryin' to cure their dyspepsia. And the little -eaters were so very few in comparison, that, if they had remained -satisfied wi' my treatment, their custom would have been of no sort o' -significance; but, acause I gived them more nor their money's worth, -they quitted the place, saying it was too cheap to be good, and that -I was only a wantin' to poisen 'em. Ignorant creturs! I was only a -wantin' to cure their dyspepsia! Well, my uncle was in a reg'lar take in -at the loss o' his business: it put him into as complete a botheration -as ever you seed. He was a man o' very few words, but was unkimmon handy -upon occasions; and, seein' or fancyin' summut wasn't correct, he -watched my goin's on; and one day he cotched me a sarving out a sartain -quantity to a fellow who didn't want quite so much. So he axed me what -I was arter; and I up and I told him all about the dyspepsia; and all -about my attemptin' to cure it; and all about my sarvin' out a sartain -quantity to every body as comed to the shop. Well, afore I'd got to the -end o' my story, my uncle, in the most unnat'ral way as could be, took -up a stick as was handy, and he sarved _me_ out wi' a sartain quantity, -till I was obligated to make all sail out o' the shop." - -"Accordin' to my notions, it wasn't a bit more nor you deserved," -remarked the unsympathising Climberkin. - -"What, not for trying to cure the dyspepsia!" loudly exclaimed the -other. - -"Not for trying to cure nothin'," was the reply. "But what became o' you -arter that?" - -"Why, my friends thought my notions o' things in general not likely to -come to no good ashore, so they took it into their heads to send me -afloat," responded his companion. "My first voyage lasted long enough -to give me a tolerable smartish insight into the nautical; but I was -continually wantin' to set things right, and my good intentions were as -continually a sarving me out wi' a sartain quantity. Now, this might ha' -made any fellow but me tired o' tryin' to benefit his fellow-creturs: -but I wasn't a chap o' that sort; and I still went on, as sarcumstances -required, 'tempting to do lots o' good, and gettin' in return nothin' -but lots o' bad. Well, when I came ashore in my native place, I was -rather a hold-your-head-up sort o' young chap; and, havin' some money -to spend, I swaggered about the streets most consumedly, and fancied -as every gal I cotched sight on was thinkin' o' nothin' in natur' but -lookin' arter me. So I thought as a matter o' course I'd look arter -them. I just did. As I had 'ticular notions o' things in general, as -every man as is a man, and thinks like a man, should have, I thought -it would be cruel to the rest o' the she creturs if I confined my -attentions to one: consequently, I went a courtin' away like a -steam-engine to all as I could meet. I had 'em o' all sorts and sizes, -colours and complexions--scraggy or squab--longs or shorts--it made not -a bit o' difference--as long as they were inclined to be fond o' me, I -was inclined to be fond o' them. I had the best intentions--I thought o' -nothin' but makin' 'em happy; and the more happiness as I could make, -the more good I thought I was a doing. Well, somehow or other, things -began to look queer, and every one on 'em was a wantin' me to marry 'em. -Now, there was a law again a fellow marryin' more nor one wife; and I -knew as if I married one it would be unkimmonly unjust to the rest. -This my 'ticular notion o' things in general wouldn't allow. I still -entertained the best intentions; so thinkin' as if they knowed the -rights o' the case they would see the impossibility o' my agreein' to -their wishes, I, unbeknown to the others, invited every one to meet -me under a large tree, a little way out o' the town, in the branches -o' which I hid myself very snug, to diskiver the upshot. First one -came--then came another--and number one looked at number two in all -sorts o' ways. Then came a third, and the two looked at number three in -all sorts o' ways. Then came a fourth, a fifth, a sixth--ay, I may as -well acknowledge at once as how they came to a matter o' twenty; and -they all looked at one another in all sorts o' ways. At last, one on -'em, as I knowed to be a bit o' a spit-fire, spoke up. - -"'Ladies,' says she, 'may I ask what brought you all here?' - -"'I came to meet Boggle,' said one. - -"'I came to meet Boggle,' said another. - -"'I came to meet Boggle,' said all. - -"'You came to meet Boggle, you hussy!' exclaimed every one in the whole -lot; and, in less than a jiffy, caps flew about, dresses were torn, and -there was the most considerable shindy that ever was known in this here -univarsal world. Now, I had the best intentions. I only thought o' -creatin' as much happiness as I could. I never had no suspicion as my -notions o' things in general could ha' led to such a revolution. And -when I seed 'em all one a top o' t' other, a pummelling, a scratching, -and screeching like so many wild cats, I was taken quite comical; and, -missing my hold upon the bough, I tumbled right down into the very midst -on 'em. Directly as they caught eyes o' me they left off fighting. 'I -shall settle the matter comfortably at last,' thought I. Miserable -Boggle that I was! how I did deceive myself! In the next moment they all -flew at me like a lot o' tigers, and they scratched me up, and they -scratched me down, and they scratched me sideways--they pulled every -hair out o' my head, and they tore my clothes into bits not big enough -to cover a pincushion; and they didn't leave my unfortunate body till -they thought they had killed me out and out." - -"I should think that ought to have sickened you o' goin' a courtin'," -remarked Climberkin, unable to restrain his mirth. - -"Sickened!" exclaimed the other; "the very sight o' a she cretur makes -me as good as done for. Why, I was obliged to be laid up in lavender for -a month. I became as tender as a chicken, and every bone I possessed -seemed to have been smashed into porridge. And this was all in return -for my 'deavourin' to make 'em happy! If this arn't a most ungrateful -world I'm a nigger!" - -"And what followed this adventure?" inquired his companion. - -"Oh, don't ask me!" replied Boggle, very gravely: "I haven't the heart -to go on. But it was all the same. Still from time to time I thought o' -setting things to rights; and on every 'portunity I was rewarded for my -good intentions wi' exactly a similar sort o' treatment." - -"Here comes the governor!" said the other, as he noticed Oriel and his -party approaching; and the two young men hastily left their seats on the -gun-carriage to attend to their duty in the ship. - -"What coast is this, captain," asked the young merchant, pointing to the -shore that lay at the distance of a few miles. - -"That is the coast of Arabia," replied Hearty. - -"A part of the world rendered particularly interesting to the -philosopher by the many important incidents which, from the early -history of the world, have there occurred," added the professor. "Here -the chariots of Pharaoh, pursuing the fugitive Jews, were ingulfed in -the waters of the Red Sea; and yonder is the land where, after their -escape, the children of Israel wandered during their weary pilgrimage." - -"Yes, the religion of Moses may be said to have had its origin here; -and here, also, the religion of Mahomet was created, don't you see," -remarked the doctor. "This is the land of Mecca and Medina: this is the -land which, during the darkness of the middle ages, evinced the first -dawn of civilisation that gave light to the world--the land of Arabian -literature--of Arabian chivalry--of Arabian science and art. I cannot -say that I honour the character of their prophet; and I detest the way -in which his religion was promulgated as I detest every religion or -every form of faith that may be called a religion, which has had its -foundation upon bloodshed, rapine, and persecution. But, looking to -the effects produced by the diffusion of the absurdities of the Koran -wherever the arms of the Mahometans could penetrate, I must say that it -has created more good than many religions which have since obtained more -consideration." - -"What! shall the Barbarians who destroyed the Alexandrian library be -held up to admiration?" exclaimed Fortyfolios, indignantly. "Shall they -who desolated wherever they went, among those who would not acknowledge -their pretended prophet, be considered benefactors to their species? I -cannot think you are in earnest, Doctor Tourniquet." - -"But I am in earnest, don't you see," replied the doctor. "I would take -and compare the state of Mahometanism in Arabia, with the state of -Christianity at the same time in any part of the world--suppose we say -from the commencement of the seventh century, during the rule of the -Abbaside caliphs, till as late as the reign of the Ommeyide caliphs in -Spain?" - -"But we must look to the opposite shore for the land from which all -intelligence proceeded," observed the professor. "Egypt was the cradle -of the arts and sciences; and her advances in knowledge preceded those -of Arabia by many centuries." - -"And, doubtless, the advances made in India and China preceded those of -Egypt by about the same time, don't you see," added the doctor. "If we -would seek the origin of philosophy, we must, of course, find it among -the first people; and there is every reason to suppose that the earliest -inhabitants of this globe were located in India." - -"That is doubtful," replied Fortyfolios. "But the Egyptians are at -least entitled to the credit of having, at an early period, carried -the mechanical arts to purposes the magnitude of which have never been -exceeded; and the degree of excellence they attained in philosophy -and learning is sufficient to make us regard them with a profound -veneration." - -"We can only judge of the tree by the fruit, don't you see," responded -Tourniquet. "All I know is, that the Egyptians distinguished themselves -by erecting the most magnificent fooleries that had ever been conceived. -Of what use were their pyramids--their colossal statues and stupendous -monuments--their gigantic idols--their vast temples, and elaborate -sculptures? Superior knowledge did exist certainly, for they were -the teachers of the Jews and of the Greeks; and, although the latter -surpassed their instructors, they have still a claim upon our -admiration. But the priests were the depositors of this knowledge, and -they wrapped it up in mystery so cleverly, that it was of no use to the -people, among whom it ought to have been distributed, and was of just -the same advantage to posterity when both priests and people were -crumbling into dust." - -"Are we not approaching the grand water communication that carries the -Red Sea into the Mediterranean?" inquired Oriel Porphyry. - -"Ah! there's some sense in that!" exclaimed the doctor. "It beats the -wonders of Thebes to nothing; and yet there could not have been more -labour employed upon it than must have been used to erect that vast -city." - -"Under what circumstances did it originate?" asked the young merchant. - -"After the Russians had made themselves masters of Constantinople," said -Fortyfolios, "the Turkish empire gradually dwindled into insignificance; -but the territory of their conquerors had become so immense, that it -was impossible, even at the expense of a military power scarcely ever -equalled, to keep it together. Symptoms of dissolution began to show -themselves. The native Russians, who had gradually risen from a state -of abject servitude to one in which a strong love of liberty became -its greatest characteristic, grew restless and dissatisfied with their -government, and were continually endeavouring to force it to become more -liberal. The frequent disturbances which arose in consequence kept the -country very unsettled; and there was a powerful party in the state, -that, being opposed to the policy of those in authority, aided in -creating the public disaffection. At this time, when the government -was fully employed by its own internal disorganisation, several of the -conquered provinces threw off their allegiance. Of these, the most -successful were Poland and Greece. There arose amongst the Greeks a man -of extraordinary valour, wisdom, and soldiership, who, from the petty -leader of an insurrection, had become the chief of the national armies; -and, having succeeded in driving the Russians from his country, was -unanimously elected its king. But the independence of Greece did not -satisfy the ambition of this conqueror. He knew that the military ardour -of his countrymen required to be constantly exercised; and, leaving his -kingdom to the wisdom of his counsellors, he led a mighty armament into -the enemy's possessions in Turkey. Battle after battle was here fought -with the same result. The heroic Greeks drove all before them; besieged -and took Constantinople, in which they planted a colony; conquered -their way through Asia Minor, and, entering the subjected province of -Persia, excited the inhabitants to revolt: nor did they desist from -their triumphant career till they had become masters of the walls of -Petersburgh. At the same time the Poles, having taken up arms, they not -only succeeded in relieving their country from the iron bondage in which -it had so long been enslaved, but, in concert with the Greeks, invaded -the lands of their conquerors, and in many a sanguinary battle revenged -the wrongs they had endured." - -"Did the Greek conqueror stop when he had subdued the Russians?" -inquired Oriel Porphyry, who seemed to listen with intense interest. - -"No conqueror will halt in his career while he imagines there is any -thing to subdue," replied Fortyfolios. "The devotion with which the -Greeks regarded their chief gave him absolute power over the lives and -liberties of his subjects, and they wanted no inducement to follow him -in the pursuit of glory. Wherever he led they crowded to his standard. -He had but to declare his wish and armies were at his command. At this -period Egypt was a fertile and flourishing kingdom. The English and -French had vainly endeavoured to subdue it. They had made conquests -and formed settlements: but when these two great empires decayed, the -conquests were given up, and the settlements abandoned. Since then, -under its own rulers, the people had advanced in prosperity, and had -become powerful among the surrounding nations. This country the Greeks -invaded. They met with desperate resistance; but after a frightful -destruction of human life, and making the prosperous kingdom a -wilderness, they succeeded in bringing the Egyptians into subjection, -and planted a colony near the mouths of the Nile. This new colony throve -rapidly; as after the death of the conqueror a long interval of peace -ensued, and the population increasing rapidly, thousands emigrated to -the shores of Egypt and of Turkey. In little more than a century the -colonies threw off the supremacy of the mother-country, and although -many attempts were made to force them to acknowledge their dependency, -they did not succeed, and now they have become free states, scarcely -inferior in importance to the great empires of Columbia and Australia; -while of the great European nations that flourished a thousand years -ago, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, are in a semi-barbarous condition; -France, after having tried a hundred different forms of government, is -split into a dozen little republics, each trying to destroy the other, -and all acknowledging the supremacy of the German empire, the most -powerful of the European states, having a territory stretching from the -Rhine to the Vistula and from the English channel to the Adriatic sea. -The state of England you will be better able to comprehend during the -visit you are about to make to its shores than any description I can -give you: but I must return to the Greek colony in Egypt. Its population -increased rapidly, and the intelligence of the people seemed to increase -with their numbers. They built many new cities, but by far the largest -and most magnificent of them is the city of Athenia, which was erected -on the borders of the lake Menzaleb. The colonists having turned their -attention to commerce, for many years had considered the advantages that -would accrue to their city if they could open a communication with the -Mediterranean on one side, and with the Gulf of Suez on the other. This -idea, if it were practicable, they saw would give them facilities of -traffic which no country could surpass; and all their thoughts were -anxiously turned towards the realisation of this splendid scheme. But -the project was so gigantic that the most skilful engineers pronounced -it impracticable. At last, one more bold than the rest published a plan -by which he said it might be accomplished, with an enormous capital, a -considerable interval of time, and the application of immense labour. -The plan was considered, and, after much discussion, approved of. Funds -were collected, a multitude of labourers were employed, and the work -commenced by cutting a broad channel through the Isthmus of Suez, -and from the Lake to the Mediterranean. In twenty years from its -commencement the waters mingled together, and in fifty years Athenia was -one of the busiest sea-ports, and one of the most magnificent cities in -the world." - -"And its inhabitants are the wisest and the happiest people on the -globe, don't you see," added the doctor. "They allow no superstitious -follies to cramp the energies of their minds. They act and think as -become men and not slaves. Their laws are simple, few, and admirably -adapted to their wants. Their sociality is perfect, their morality -unrivalled, their intelligence exceeds that of any other people beneath -the sun. As for their form of faith, nothing can equal its philosophy, -for they maintain that philanthropy is the only religion, and that the -true worship of God is doing good to man." - -"Those are the principles my father entertains," observed the young -merchant. - -"They may truly be called a nation of philanthropists," continued the -surgeon. "There is philanthropy in their laws--there is philanthropy -in their government--there is philanthropy in their dealings one with -another. From the cradle to the grave the object of all is to teach good -or to practise it; and such things as hate, deceit, envy, avarice, and -all the black catalogue of vices that stain other nations are to them -unknown." - -"They are a people worthy of being studied," said Oriel. - -"Studied! they ought to be got by heart, by every nation on the face of -the globe, don't you see," replied Dr. Tourniquet. "There is nothing in -nature so refreshing to the sight. It makes one in love with humanity. -It dissolves all the freezing selfishness that the prejudices of -education have created upon our feelings, and allows us to enjoy the -sunshine and the gladness of a free and unalterable sympathy for all -our race. It is under such circumstances, and under such only, that man -becomes what he was created to be--a creature eminently happy, enjoying -moderately all his inclinations, pleased with the pleasures of others, -and liberally sharing his own: knowing neither fear, nor crime, nor -want, nor folly; suffering from few diseases, and those only the most -ordinary afflictions of existence; entertaining no idea of emulation -but that of endeavouring to exceed one another in doing good; having -no interest in any property apart from the interest of the community; -possessing no attachment to any object or place which is not shared -by those around him--and while looking neither to the past nor to the -future with either hope or fear, endeavouring to make the present -as beneficial to himself and others, as with a kind, a just, and a -reasonable way of life the present can be made. And this is what I call -a perfect state of society, don't you see." - - - - -CHAP. XI. - -ATHENIA. - - -A party, consisting of the two philosophers, Oriel Porphyry, Zabra, and -a stranger, were proceeding in an elegant open carriage through the -crowded streets of Athenia. The stranger was a man of about fifty, of -noble mien, and lofty stature. There was a classic purity in the outline -of his face, that became more pleasing to the gazer from its being -accompanied by features of the most benevolent expression. A mild and -graceful spirit seemed shining in every look; and none could behold his -clear expansive forehead without feeling a conviction that he stood in -the presence of an intelligence of the highest order. A white turban was -carefully folded over his brows, covering the lower portion of a small -velvet cap that fitted close to the head. The upper part of his body -was robed in several vests, or short jackets, made of different stuffs, -in elegant patterns, each being of a different fabric and colour; and -beneath these an under garment, of remarkably fine linen, might be -observed. The waist was bound round with a rich silken sash, the ends -of which hung down on the left side; and below it, in very full folds, -descended to the knees a garment of a thick fabric, of a white colour -till near the skirt, where there appeared three narrow bands of light -blue: leggings of thin silk descended to the feet, which were cased in -shoes of fine leather; and an ample robe of embroidered purple cloth -hung loose from the shoulders. - -"This is a magnificent street," remarked the young merchant, noticing a -line of palaces that stretched for a considerable distance on each side -of him. - -"What noble porticoes--what lofty domes--what a beauty and harmony there -is in the arrangement of every building!" exclaimed Zabra. "Surely they -are inhabited by a race of princes." - -"Of what are usually called princes, we know nothing," said the stranger -mildly. "This is the street of our great men. Here dwell our most -illustrious poets, philosophers, artists, and men of science." - -"Can it be possible?" asked Fortyfolios. "How do they manage to acquire -such splendid dwellings?" - -"When a citizen has shown by his works," resumed the stranger, "that he -possesses those intellectual powers that most ennoble human nature, the -public, out of gratitude for the gratifications they receive from his -superior intelligence, place him in a situation where he can be most -honoured, and where his own pleasures may correspond in degree with the -pleasures he is creating." - -"Nothing can be more wise, don't you see," said the doctor; "and it has -been a disgrace to all civilised nations that their men of intellect, -the only nobles that any society can possess, have been so little cared -for, that few have ever enjoyed an adequate return for the labour and -the wealth they were bestowing upon their country. Rarely have they -been held in the estimation which their superiority in the only true -greatness which can distinguish humanity ought to command; and a vast -number have been left to battle with a selfish world, till, having -endured every species of suffering that can most afflict their sensitive -natures, steeped to the lips in poverty, weary and heartbroken, they lie -down in some obscure corner and die." - -"We could not practise such injustice," observed the stranger; "and I am -surprised that any people should exist who know so little of their true -interests as to act in so unwise a manner. It is our object to enlighten -the community as much as may be possible; and knowing that the increase -of intelligence, when properly directed, is productive of a similar -increase of happiness, we naturally endeavour to testify to those who -are labouring to produce our felicity the interest we take in the -creation of theirs: we therefore consider them as benefactors, clothe -them with dignity, surround them with honour, allow them to have no want -ungratified, and convey within their reach every enjoyment that can make -their lives glide on without a care, a regret, or a disappointment. The -consequence has been, that the gifted, observing the estimation in which -excellence is held, strive with all their energies to become worthy of -the same distinction. From this cause our buildings have become the -finest in the world--our works of art have become the finest in the -world--the most wonderful discoveries exceed each other in every branch -of science--and in every department of philosophy some new and amazing -effort of genius is continually making itself manifest." - -"What a desirable state of things!" exclaimed Oriel. - -"But how do the people profit by their generosity?" inquired the -professor. - -"Rather say by their gratitude," observed the stranger. "Knowledge is -imparted freely. There are free lectures, in which our great men make -public all the information that may most enlighten a community; books -are published on every subject, and distributed freely to those who -require them; and their authors, having no inclination ungratified, -and finding their greatest pleasure in diffusing the intelligence they -possess, employ their powers with nobler feelings than in other nation -the desire of money as an object of reward, or a means of existence, can -under any circumstances create; and the people, enjoying the wholesome -pleasures thus liberally conveyed to them, have neither inclination nor -time to contract vicious propensities, and follow the daily business of -life with pure hearts, and minds open to every ennobling impression." - -"They must enjoy an extraordinary amount of happiness," observed Zabra. - -"With what is usually called misery they are entirely ignorant," -replied the stranger; "for as all their time is employed in the -right application of the means of enjoyment, they create no wrong; -consequently they cannot produce anything but happiness." - -"Worthy Sophos!" exclaimed Fortyfolios. "In the streets through which we -have passed, although I have noticed every sort of warehouse and shop -for the purposes of trade, I have not seen any place for the sale of -intoxicating liquors; and among all the public buildings I have beheld, -I have not met with any thing which, from its appearance, I could -consider a prison." - -"Intoxicating liquors we neither buy nor sell," replied Sophos. "The -pure beverage which nature has provided so liberally for our enjoyment, -confers upon us both health and pleasure; and although the indulgence of -every natural inclination is allowed, any intemperance in the enjoyment -of an appetite is punished with immediate and general disgrace; the -sensualist, the glutton, or the drunkard is avoided as unworthy to -associate with his fellow men, and the instances of such offences being -committed are so rare, that they are now looked upon as altogether -unnatural. As for prisons we do not want them; we have no use for them. -Such offences as crimes against life, or crimes against property; -crimes against the individual, or crimes against the state, are so few -that if we were to build a prison, we should find some difficulty in -getting in it a single inhabitant. We have long known that prisons do -not prevent crime. We are aware that wherever there have been the most -prisons, there have been the greatest number of criminals; and beholding -in the experience of ages the inutility of punishment as a preventive -to criminality, we came to the conclusion, that the only sure way of -preventing a man becoming a criminal, is to remove from his path all -temptations to crime. Every citizen having the free enjoyment of every -inclination, cannot possibly have a want that interferes with the -interests of the community; and we are exceedingly careful throughout -the educational course of life to prevent the existence of any -inclination that may be hurtful either to the individual or to the -society to which he belongs." - -"Is this one of your religious edifices?" inquired Oriel, pointing to a -large building supported by elegant pillars, and having the appearance -of the highest degree of architectural excellence. - -"It is, and it is not," replied Sophos, with a smile. "It is a religious -edifice, inasmuch as it is well calculated to assist in establishing -religious impressions, and it is used for the purpose of conveying moral -instruction to the hearts of those who enter its walls: and it is not a -religious edifice, because it is connected with no mystery, and is no -place for monks and priests, grovelling superstitions, and unmeaning -ceremonies. But you shall examine the interior." With these words he -ordered the carriage to be driven up to the gates, and the party -alighting, entered the edifice. - -Having passed through lofty folding doors, they were ushered along a -vaulted hall of immense extent and admirable proportions. It was lighted -from the top by windows that spread around the whole circumference of -the dome in a series of circles, between which the roof was supported by -gigantic figures of white marble. The walls were painted in fresco, -with a variety of subjects executed in the first style of art, and the -object of every painting appeared to be to elevate the human mind into a -love of practical benevolence. Nothing barbarous, nothing cruel, nothing -unjust, nothing coarse, nothing that could create an unpleasant feeling, -had here been introduced; but all that was affectionate and true, and -pure and excellent, had been seized by the plastic genius of the artist, -and fixed in undying colours upon the wall. - -In the different divisions that separated these pictures appeared short -moral maxims and philosophical sentences. Every religion seemed to have -furnished some portion of the instruction here conveyed. Near the truths -of Christianity might be observed the wisdom of Islamism; the Proverbs -of Solomon had a place by the side of the maxims of Zoroaster, and the -wisdom of Confucius was inscribed opposite the philosophy of Socrates. -Wherever the eye turned it caught something worthy of contemplation, and -whatever the mind contemplated it found impressive, unanswerable, and -impossible to be forgotten. - -"What place do you call this?" inquired Oriel of his conductor. - -"It is called the Hall of Wisdom and of Humanity," replied the stranger. -"And here, if the soul is fretted by pain or sorrow, or the heart yearns -for some refreshing influence, comes the citizen from the busy toils of -life, and gazing on these tokens of a benevolent power, and studying -these signs of a comprehensive intelligence, he finds that both his -heart and mind are strengthened--a love of excellence pervades all his -nature, and he passes back to the world with a cheerful spirit, giving -and partaking gladness." - -"What are the principles of your religion?" asked Fortyfolios. - -"The principles of our religion are the best principles of every -religion that has existed from the creation of the world," responded -Sophos. "We found every variety of faith could produce something -profitable. The worst religion has brought forth good men, good women, -and good citizens, and surrounded by the most degrading superstitions, -we invariably found some truth worthy of general appreciation. We also -found that the most enlightened religions produced bad men, bad women, -and bad citizens, and discovered amid the most wholesome truths they -endeavoured to inculcate, some pernicious superstition that destroyed -the efficacy of their doctrines. This led to a consideration of their -separate natures, and upon careful examination we discovered that from -the earliest ages, all people had been doing the same thing under -different names. They had personified two opposing principles--the -principle of good and the principle of evil, which they had worshipped. -In many religious systems the machinery was more complicated than in -others, but all were easily traced to the same source." - -"Impossible!" exclaimed the professor. - -"The names of God and Devil," continued Sophos, "are so obviously -modified from good and evil, and the attributes of each power are so -completely the attributes of each principle, that nothing more need be -said of their connection. They are the same things: as principles they -are the light and shadow of the moral world; as deities, the Alpha and -Omega of Christianity and Judaism. Vishnu the Preserver, and Siva the -Destroyer, the most important members of the Hindoo Pantheon--the -Ahrimanes and Ormuzd of Zoroaster, and the Fire Worshippers of -Persia--the Osiris and Typhon of the Egyptians--the Jupiter and Pluto of -the Greeks--and the great idols of every form of worship that had at any -time of the world existed, are but personifications of the opposing -principles good and evil." - -"Not a doubt of it, don't you see," remarked Doctor Tourniquet. - -"I do not believe anything of the kind," observed Fortyfolios: "it's -heathenish, abominable, and atheistical." - -"Having made this analysis," continued the stranger, without attending -to the interruptions he had received, "we came to the determination of -making these principles our form of faith; that is to say, we made our -doctrines those of benevolence. Good was our God--Philanthropy was our -religion; and doing good became the way in which we endeavoured to -worship the Deity. The good principle is around us at all times while -we live, and creates our felicity, and produces the pleasures of those -around us; and death is the evil principle, which puts an end to the -happiness we were enjoying and creating." - -"What is your form of government?" inquired Oriel. - -"Our supreme head is called the Optimus, or the Best," replied Sophos. -"He is addressed by the title of our Benefactor the Optimus, and is -elevated to that dignity in consequence of his having distinguished -himself above his fellow-citizens by the superior excellence of his -wisdom and greatness of his philanthropy. He is assisted in the duties -of the government by an assembly of two hundred of the most experienced, -the wisest, and the best of his fellow-countrymen, who are called -Fathers; and from this assembly the people always choose their Optimus, -who reigns as long as his faculties permit him to exercise his judgment -for the benefit of the people, and his reign is called his Optimate. -Inferior in dignity to the assembly of Fathers, is a parliament of -five hundred, who are distinguished by the name of Brothers; and they -represent the interests of certain communities or disciples into -which our great family is divided. It must not be imagined from these -divisions and distinctions that there are any exclusive advantages or -separate interests amongst us. Any individual may obtain the highest -offices of the legislature by passing through the parliament of Brothers -and the assembly of Fathers, for which he must show himself well -qualified by knowledge, virtue, and benevolence. He gains neither -advantage nor profit--nothing but the esteem of his fellow-citizens; and -the people are classed into distinct communities of disciples, merely -that the interests of the whole shall receive a proper degree of -attention from the legislative." - -"And do you find such a form of government answer the purpose for which -it was designed?" inquired Oriel. - -"All," replied Sophos. "The laws are simple and few, and admirably -adapted to satisfy the wants of the people. We have no monopolies -to protect; we have no exclusive privileges to confer. There is no -legislative enactment passed which does not take into consideration the -happiness of each and all." - -"It is wonderful to observe with how few laws a nation may be governed," -said the doctor; "and it is equally surprising to notice with how many -laws a nation may be misgoverned, don't you see." - -"Now let us enter the Hall of Public Benefactors," said the stranger; -and passing through a succession of elegant arches, he led the way to -another magnificent hall, similar in grandeur and beauty to the one -they had recently left. Statues, rather larger than life, were placed -in separate niches round the wall; and these statues represented -individuals who had rendered themselves illustrious by their virtues or -intelligence. In one place stood the figure of the immortal Howard; in -another that of the admirable Pestalozzi. Opposite these philanthropists -were the patriots Alfred, Leonidas, Sobieski, William Tell, and Hofer. -Here stood the impetuous Körner, and there the amiable Shelley. Jeremy -Bentham, Oberlin, Owen of Lanark, Sir Samuel Romilly, and Wilberforce -had places near Harvey, the discoverer of the circulation, Galileo, -Fenelon, Plato, Socrates, Newton, Bacon, and La Place; and Tasso, and -Petrarch, and Göthe, and Walter Scott, and Coleridge, and Wordsworth, -were seen by the side of Shakspeare, and Milton, and Cicero, and -Demosthenes, and Aristotle, and Plutarch. The most commanding -intellects, the noblest natures, the wisest, the best, and kindest of -human beings were here all represented in the plastic marble, and raised -high above the heads of those who were gazing upon them, as if to show -how elevated were such spirits above the common mass of mankind. - -"Look! look!" exclaimed Zabra to his patron, with his eyes shining -with pleasure, pointing to a statue that was placed in one of the most -conspicuous situations in the chamber. Oriel looked in the required -direction, and, with a delight that kept him dumb, recognised the -statue of his father. - -"Yes, the statue of your father has been considered worthy of a place -in the Hall of Public Benefactors," observed Sophos; "and even here, -in that nobleness of heart which all good men should honour, he will -scarcely meet with a superior. Master Porphyry has deserved well of -the world, and the world should honour him above the ambitious crowd -who strive for their notice. He has made of his great wealth a great -blessing. He has been a doer of good from his youth upward; and the love -which he has evinced for his fellow-creatures has been universal in its -object. Had he been born amongst us, or were his virtues transplanted -into our society, I have no doubt that upon the first occasion he would -be promoted to the rank of Optimus; but whether in Athenia or in -Columbus, or in whatever part of the world he may chance to be, there he -will be The Best, and there he will have sovereignty over all good men." - -Oriel Porphyry listened with feelings of the most exquisite pleasure -to this eulogium, and he gazed, with a happiness in his eyes it was -long since he had experienced, upon the marble figure which had been -sculptured into a resemblance of his parent; but the delight of Zabra -seemed still more intense, and he turned from the statue to his friend, -and from his friend to the statue, as if he never could be tired of -gazing upon their noble countenances. - -"It is here our great and good men come and meditate," continued the -stranger; "and, gazing upon the greatness and goodness they see around -them, standing in their places of honour, an impulse of emulation fills -their souls, their hearts are brimming over with generous sympathies, -and they return to the senate or the public hall with eloquence that -carries conviction to the hearer, and a purpose that can only be -satisfied by the production of some general and lasting benefit." - -The party proceeded into other halls, some for public instruction, -others for social intercourse, and others for the deliberations of the -legislature, and in all they observed the same happy adaptation of the -means to the end, the same beautiful appearances, the same spirit of -benevolence, and the same admirable harmony in the disposition of the -different parts of the chamber, as they had noticed in the chambers -through which they had passed. After which they resumed their ride. - -"There is nothing I have seen in my travels that has afforded me so much -pleasure as what I have observed during the brief stay I have made in -this city;" observed the young merchant. - -"And as yet you have seen scarcely any thing of us, of our manners, or -of our institutions;" replied Sophos. "Let me now take you to a musical -entertainment given in the open air by an orchestra of at least a -thousand performers, and it will give you an opportunity of not only -hearing the best music performed in the most expressive manner, but of -mingling with the people of Athenia in their hours of relaxation and -amusement." - -Permission having been readily granted, the carriage was driven off -to an open park, beautifully planted with noble trees and flowering -plants, (amongst which carriage ways and footpaths wound in graceful -sweeps), and possessing every variety of hill and dale, lake and rivulet -to increase its attractions. - -"This is one of the public parks that have been planted to secure the -health and improve the pleasures of the citizens;" said the stranger. -"Here you see are thronging the young and the old, the philosopher and -the student, the statesman and the mechanic, all with happy faces, and -each intent that his neighbour shall share in his happiness." - -"And who are yonder group of beautiful girls that seem so much delighted -with one another. It is strange that they should appear in a public -place without some male friends or relations;" observed Oriel. - -"Not at all;" replied Sophos. "Who can look upon them without respect? -They want no protectors, for there is here no one who would even think -them harm. They are probably proceeding to the concert for the purpose -of joining in the choruses, and are the daughters of the noblest of our -citizens. We have made music a part of our system of education, and not -unwisely; for there is no source of gratification so capable of refining -and intellectualising the feelings. Each individual possesses the power -of distributing pleasure to the rest, and here, when they can escape -from the necessary labours of life, come all,--from the humblest to the -highest, from the most ignorant to the most enlightened, and tuning -their instruments and their voices into one grand harmonious concert, -they create such a powerful and delicious music as I should imagine it -would be impossible to excel." - -The party had now arrived at the top of a hill, from which they had a -splendid view of the scene before them. Down to the very base of the -hill on which they stood, at least twenty thousand citizens, men, women, -and children, clad in a costume, varying in some degree from that worn -by Sophos, were reclining on the grass. Opposite to them was a hill of -smaller dimensions, upon which an immense orchestra was being arranged. -At the top, on each side, were a pair of gigantic drums, between which -were several smaller ones. Below these were the brass instruments, -then the flutes, bassoons, oboes and clarionets: the double basses and -violincellos flanked the violins, and outside the stringed instruments, -the choruses were stationed; a place was left at bottom for the -principal singers, in the centre of which stood the conductor, ready to -give the time of the performance. - -The spectators had hitherto carried on a conversation each in his own -circle; but immediately the conductor's bâton was seen in motion, every -one was in an attitude of attention, and then among the whole mass -of listeners not a sound arose. The first piece performed was for -instruments only. It commenced with a movement remarkable for the -solemnity of its character and the richness of its harmonies, which -changed into a sweet and graceful subject in quicker time, wherein -several beautiful phrases were worked up by the musician in a variety -of pleasing shapes. The piece ended with a more lively movement, -introducing a magnificent fugue, in which the different instruments -followed each other with an effect astonishing for its grandeur and -beauty. To say it was well played, would convey only a feeble conception -of the excellence of the performance: it was played with that perfect -precision, and exquisite attention to the expression required in the -composition, which can only characterise the very best performances. -As soon as it was over there arose from the delighted multitude who -thronged the hill a loud and continued burst of applause, mingled with -exclamations expressive of the approbation of the listeners, and every -one seemed to turn to his neighbour to observe if he was as well -gratified as himself. - -A song, or rather descriptive scene for a bass voice, with orchestral -accompaniments, followed, in which the poet and musician sought -to describe the temptations to evil, its committal, and its evil -consequences; and the piece ended with a most harrowing picture of -madness and death. After this there was a dramatic duet between a treble -and tenor, delineating the first appearance and confession of a mutual -affection. This was succeeded by a vocal air for a female voice, marked -by a simple and exquisite pathos that seemed to touch every heart; and -its subject was the despair of the heart, when, having for a long time -believed itself beloved, it awakes to the full conviction that it is -deceived. A grand chorus in praise of nature followed; and the effect -of so many hundred voices swelling out the harmonies, was grand in -the extreme; and the act concluded by a descriptive symphony for the -orchestra, full of sweet pastoral effect, and admirable instrumentation. - -Each composition was performed in a manner as nearly approaching -perfection as was attainable, and this the audience seemed to -acknowledge by the liberality of their plaudits. Upon Zabra the effect -seemed to be extraordinary. He drank in every sound as if his life -depended upon its enjoyment, and he listened with a sense of pleasure -beaming in his features that nothing but the most intense gratification -could have created. The rest of the performance was of a similar degree -of merit, and the party left the hill impressed with the conviction -that they had seen and enjoyed more rational pleasure than they had ever -known at any public place of amusement. - -"I would not have missed the exquisite delight I have received, on -any consideration;" remarked Zabra. "Enraptured as I am with music, -I have known nothing in my experience that bears a comparison with -the enjoyments of this day. And what could create more pleasure? It -would be sufficient, one would suppose, to be made familiar with the -skill of ordinary musicians; but you could take no interest in their -performances, they are drilled to do them, and they can do nothing else: -but here is a multitudinous family of musicians, hastening from the -loom, the study, the workshop, the laboratory and the warehouse, who -each has a distinct business to which he must devote his attention, to -join, from a desire to please his fellow-citizens, in the execution of -the most difficult and beautiful productions of the musical art; and -every one takes his part, caring not, however unimportant it may be, -so that he is allowed to share in producing the general happiness. -Of all the arts of civilised life there can be none so humanising in -its tendency, so refreshing in its influence; so pure, exalting, and -subduing in its effects as music. The man who is insensible to its -charms is afflicted with a most pitiable blindness. There can be no -harmony in his nature. His feelings must be in an unchangeable state -of discord. But point out any human creature sensitive to all musical -impressions, and I would affirm that you might mould him into any good -purpose. Music, as a means of educating the feelings, can never be -excelled. The experience of a hundred ages has proved its power as an -instrument for creating or subduing the passions; and yet never till now -have I seen any attempt made to try its beneficial effects on a large -scale, and by making good musicians, to endeavour to create good men." - -There was no time for a reply to be made to these observations, as -the carriage stopped at the door of a handsome mansion, and the party -prepared to alight. - -"I must introduce you into our social circle," said Sophos, as he led -the way into his dwelling; "and I hope you will be able to find in it -the same happiness that I have so long enjoyed." - -They followed him through several apartments furnished with superior -taste, till they entered a room of more moderate proportions ornamented -with a variety of elegant decorations, in which two females were -reclining on an ottoman, with a handsome youth standing before them -reading from an open book. The females were the wife and daughter of -their host; and both possessed countenances of exceeding beauty: the -maternal dignity of the one contrasting admirably with the affectionate -playfulness of the other; and the youth was the betrothed of the -daughter. As soon as Sophos entered they hastened to meet him, and -welcomed him with their endearments. These being over he introduced his -guests to their notice, who received from them such marks of kindness -and attention as made them instantly at ease. After an interesting -conversation, describing what had been witnessed during their morning's -ride, the party were summoned to the dining-room, where they partook of -wholesome food of exquisite flavour, served up without ostentation or -extravagance, and partaken of without epicureanism or gluttony. - -"Zoe," said Sophos to his daughter, "has nothing transpired since my -absence that is worthy of recital?" - -"I have something to communicate to you, my father," replied the -beautiful girl, as she pushed back from her eyes the dark ringlets that -seemed to have fallen from the little velvet cap embroidered with gold -which was worn tight upon the upper part of her head; "but I know not -whether it would interest your guests." - -"I will excuse you, Zoe, if it should not," observed the father. - -"I had gone to perform my customary duties, as nurse, at the Hospital of -Invalids," said Zoe, "when my attentions were required by a youth who -was in a state of intense delirium. He raved, he shouted and wept; -he entreated with all the eloquence of frantic excitement; and then -upbraided with the unsocial energy of despair: but most conspicuous in -all his ravings was the name of Lusa, which appeared to belong to some -maiden by whom he was enamoured, who did not return his attachment. In -his delirium he mistook me for the object of his passion, and by turns -praised me as the kindest of all created beings, and upbraided me as -the most cruel of my sex. To such an extent did these paroxysms arrive, -that, unless some plan was put into operation which would lessen the -excitement under which he laboured, there appeared no hopes of saving -his life. I knew nothing of him or of his history; and I knew as little -of Lusa and of the cause which prevented their mutual happiness; but -there was no doubt that the indifference of the maiden had created the -malady which threatened the youth's life; and I felt convinced, that -if I could make him imagine that a mutual sympathy existed, a healthy -action would ensue, and a recovery follow. Being addressed as Lusa, I -thought it would be advisable, under the character thus imposed upon -me, to give the sufferer hopes of a more blissful termination to his -affections; and, therefore, I cautiously and kindly made him imagine -that the heart he thought so unrelenting had been subdued by a wish -to alleviate his sufferings. You will pardon me this deception, dear -father, as it was done to save a life which might be made valuable to -the community." - -"There was nothing wrong in it, Zoe; and these are deceptions that not -only become necessary, but are not to be avoided without inhumanity," -said the father. - -"The youth listened to me as if there was the power of life and death -upon my lips," continued Zoe; "every word seemed to sink into his heart: -his frenzy became subdued; the feverish fire fled from his eyes--he grew -calm, and blessed me with a fervour impossible to be described. After -this he fell into a profound sleep. Then I found myself placed in a -difficult and distressing position. I knew, that when he woke, he would -discover the deception that had been practised upon him, and I feared -that the result would be a relapse, from which there could be no -recovery. While I was vainly endeavouring to conceive some plan by which -I might escape from the embarrassing situation in which I was placed, a -young and handsome female entered that portion of the hospital in which -my duties were performed. She approached me, and inquired after the -health of the patient committed to my charge. She did not tell me who -she was, and I imagined her to be a relative. I therefore acquainted her -with the exact state of the case; and related the way in which I had -discovered the origin of his malady. I described to her the distressing -situation in which I had placed myself by the deception I had practised, -as I knew, that on his awaking, he must discover how cruelly he had -been imposed upon. I had noticed during my recital that the maiden had -appeared confused, had looked distressed, anxious, and full of sympathy -for the sufferer; but I was not prepared for the avowal she made when I -had told her all I had to communicate. She was Lusa." - -"And how did you manage to arrange the matter, my Zoe?" inquired Sophos. - -"I immediately made an appeal to her sympathies," replied his daughter. -"I described to her the positive danger in which the youth was placed -by her indifference--and endeavoured to awaken her feelings to a sense -of the pleasures she would be storing for herself if she resolved upon -rescuing him from the perils by which he was threatened. She replied -that he was amiable and good, and had given her no cause for her -apparent unkindness; but that she had not loved him in return for -his affections, because he had excited in her no similar feeling; and, -that hearing of his danger, her heart had been filled with tenderness, -and that she had come to the hospital for the express purpose of -endeavouring to tranquillise his mind with happier thoughts. This -confession rejoiced me more than I can possibly express; and I bade her -take my place at his bedside, while I remained at a distance to notice -the effect her appearance would have upon him when he awoke. I had not -waited long before I observed his head move on the pillow. His eyes -looked clearer--his countenance calm and intelligent. - -"'Is it a dream?' he said, as his gaze wandering round fell upon the -blushing face of his Lusa. The look with which she answered the question -seemed to have subdued him. - -"'Lusa!' he murmured, as he gazed upon her with a kindling eye and -quivering lip. 'Lusa, my beloved! My soul is on my lips--let me bless -you! My hope, my guide, my consolation! the very breath of my being--the -aim and glory of my dreams! in all earnestness, in all sincerity, and in -all love, I bless you; and may the blessing I confer remain upon you, -gladden the atmosphere you breathe, and fill with beauty every scene -upon which you gaze!' - -"Lusa's eyes were filled with tears; and bending her head down to his -face, her lips rested upon his. She then moved away her head to conceal -her tears; and, taking his hand in hers, she talked to him of hope -and happiness; and assured him that she would endeavour to return the -affection he had lavished on her so liberally. To this he made no reply. -She looked upon his face and saw that his eyes were fixed and glassy. -A scream brought me to her side; and, gazing in fear and pity, we -discovered that he was dead." - -"How dreadful!" exclaimed Zabra. - -"He died happy," observed Sophos, "and his life had been blameless: -there is nothing dreadful in such a dissolution. I should say that, -under such circumstances, Death was robbed of all his terrors. The heart -of the affectionate youth was too full; he died of excessive happiness; -his breath passed away in a blessing, and his soul took flight in a -caress. Is there any other way of passing from existence which, to a -lover, could afford so much and so true an enjoyment?" - -"I should think not," here remarked Zoe's betrothed. "It appeared as -if all the happiness of his existence had been concentrated into one -moment, and that its intensity destroyed him." - -"He was young," said the matron; "and in youth, when the soul is -attached to one object, though there be no return to the passion, and -no hope except what the lover creates, he will love the more, the -more despairing becomes his attachment. As the individual acquires -experience, he loves more wisely; or, perhaps, I might say, he becomes -more selfish: he thinks of himself much more than his passion; and an -instance of devotion without a return is rarely, if ever, met with -beyond the period of youth. Manhood is prouder--age more cautious; and -as life passes on, the impulses which might have been wakened by a -breath are not to be stirred even by a whirlwind." - -"Whence go you when you leave our shores?" inquired Sophos of the young -merchant, as if desirous of changing the conversation. - -"I pass from here to Constantinople; and from there, after touching at -some of the principal ports in Europe, I intend visiting the classic -shores of England;" replied Oriel. - -"'Tis an interesting voyage," observed his host; "especially your -intended visit to the English shores: it is an ancient country, and to -the philanthropist is connected with many associations that make it -regarded with peculiar interest. The brightest page in her book of -honour records the efforts she made to extinguish the slave trade -throughout the world. It was a great boast of the Englishmen of those -days, that a slave, as soon as he set his foot upon the honoured land -of England, became a free man." - -"And look at the efforts it made for the regeneration of every other -country;" added Fortyfolios. "For how long a period did it take the lead -in civilisation! Its learning enriched the whole world; its manufactures -produced clothing for almost every people by whom clothing was required; -and its mechanical improvements conferred wealth and power on every -nation that adopted them." - -"But the picture to be true to nature requires a little shadow, don't -you see;" observed the doctor. "There are some accounts of cruelty, and -oppression, and bigotry, which ought to find a place in their history. -We must not forget the manner in which they acquired their possessions -in India; the tyranny and slaughter they introduced among the natives -of Southern Africa; the infamous system of slavery they encouraged in -the West Indies; and the destructive and unjust warfare they waged with -their colonists in America." - -"Although I cannot defend the manner in which the English acquired new -territory abroad," said the professor; "when I compare it with the more -savage policy of the Spaniards, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, -and other nations who endeavoured to add to their possessions by -conquering distant lands and massacring the natives, I think England -comparatively blameless. Their behaviour to the Africans in the interior -of the Cape of Good Hope was produced by the colonists they found there, -not by the colonists they introduced there; the evils of West Indian -slavery ought to be forgotten in consideration of their constant -efforts to ameliorate the conditions of their own slaves, and the great -sacrifices they made to put down slavery in every part of the world; and -their treatment of their colonists in America should only be remembered -as the cause--the glorious cause--which created one of the most -important empires that ever existed upon the face of the globe." - -"There are certainly a few blots upon the fame of this great people," -remarked Sophos; "but the good they effected--a good which is enjoyed by -every portion of the civilised world at this moment--was attempted on so -grand a scale, and produced such magnificent results, that, in justice, -we ought not to look too narrowly upon their errors. And now, Zoe, as -the strangers are about to visit the shores of England, endeavour to -delight them, as you have done me, with that ancient song which appears -to be so great a favourite of yours." - -"I will, O my father, if you will ask Alcibiades to join me; for it is -more fit for his voice than for mine;" replied Zoe. - -"Alcibiades does not require an invitation, dear Zoe, for so delightful -a purpose;" said the youth, looking all that his words expressed. - -With rich harmonious voices that blended together with exquisite effect, -and with a manner so expressive that it stirred the hearts of those -around them to feelings of the most intense gratification, the two -commenced the following song:-- - - "Hurra for merry England, the island of the blest, - Where gen'rous thoughts, and loving hopes, are nursed in ev'ry - breast; - Where valleys green, and mountains high, and rivers strong and - deep, - Are fill'd with blissful memories Time cannot set to sleep. - Hurra for merry England! Confusion on her foe! - And gladness shine upon her homes--for merry England ho! - - "Hurra for mighty England! the island of the brave! - Whose conquering flag hath waved its pride o'er ev'ry shore and - wave; - From eastern hills arose the sun, he kiss'd the western streams, - And still he found that English swords were flashing in his - beams. - Hurra for mighty England! Destruction on her foe! - And triumph dwell within her hearts--for mighty England ho! - - "Hurra for noble England! the island of the free! - Where coward souls and slavish minds were never known to be; - Who, proudly as they look'd upon their own unfetter'd gains, - Gave other lands their bravery, and dash'd away their chains. - Hurra for noble England! Dishonour on her foe! - And glory rest upon her lands--for noble England ho!" - - -END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. - - - LONDON: - Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE, - New-Street-Square. - - - - -Transcriber's Note - - -A table of Contents has been added. - -Text in italics has been placed between _underscores_ and text in small -capitals has been changed to all capitals. - -Some punctuation errors have been corrected silently. Inconsistent use -of quotation marks in some parts of the book has not been changed. - -The following corrections have been made, on page - - 31 "immemediately" changed to "immediately" (the stranger, - immediately stopping in his career) - - 55 "exexception" changed to "exception" (with the exception of the - one you have) - - 118 "hyprocrisy" changed to "hypocrisy" ('Tis all hypocrisy!) - - 197 "incompent" changed to "incompetent" (utterly incompetent to - appreciate their merits) - - 207 "wetches" changed to "wretches" (if I have killed these poor - wretches). - -Otherwise the original was preserved, including archaic and inconsistent -spelling and hyphenation. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lady Eureka, v. 2 (of 3), by -Robert Folkestone Williams - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY EUREKA, V. 2 (OF 3) *** - -***** This file should be named 42492-8.txt or 42492-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/4/9/42492/ - -Produced by eagkw, Robert Cicconetti and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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