THE MEN OF PHYSIC;

AN EASTERN TALE.

(By the Author of "Glances from the Moon.")

It happened that a certain absolute and capricious despot of an eastern province, on perceiving, after a few years' domination, that the number of his subjects had considerably decreased, instead of instituting a cautious inquiry into the possible causes of this lowered population, determined to lay the whole charge, the wonder, and the mischief, on the professed practisers of what was there termed the healing art, but, according to his princely suspicion, the art of poisoning and destroying. Long did he cherish, whether warranted or otherwise doth not clearly appear, this peculiar sentiment, strengthened by progressive observation, and now matured into immoveable conviction: and, indeed, as his province had neither been lately desolated by war, vi

sited by pestilence, nor reduced by famine, it becomes possible-just possible I mean-that the notion which this prince had conceived of the blundering ways and means exercised by the men of Physic, might not have proved so fallacious or unjust, as, on first hearing, it should seem to threaten : the less so, because the class of these physician, or leeches, was the only one which had escaped the late examples of extraordinary fatality; a phenomenon which was referred, for its solution, to the commonly believed fact, that the physician exerciseth not his art himself. But, let that pass. upon

And now, whether sanctioned by a rational probability of a successful result, or not-whether right or wrong-he determined to put the matter at issue to one grand and decisive experiment. He published an edict, ordering every practitioner of the medical craft, of whatever degree, to quit the province in the course of ten days. Remonstrance had been vain : it was the mandate of despotic authority: no appeal remained; obedience was prompt and universal; not one professor, not a single minister of physic, dared to hold back and linger within the lines of demarkation after the expiration of the period limited by the edict.

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Now, when the news of this extraordinary decree had reached and crept into the ear of Death, his jaws were presently screwed into a contemptuous grin, while meditating his purpose. Opposition to my power," he said, "has always proved vain in the result, though whilom ridiculously obstinate and contentious. This prince shall quickly understand how unequal is the contest which he appears rash enough and weak enough to wage with a power, known by universal experience to be paramount and irresistible."

Thus muttered the Destroyer.

Hence we pass on to the expiration of that measure of time sufficient for the ascertaining whether the expectations of the prince were well founded and supported.

Twelve months had now elapsed, when, on a numerical comparison of deaths with those of the preceding year, they were found in a ratio greatly diminished, calculating for the lessened number of souls occasioned by the absence of the leeches. The discontent of the people against their prince, and their alarm for themselves, changed into reverence

and composure. His pride and self-gratulation rose in proportion—perhaps something out of proportion, a mistake committed occasionally even by sovereigns-to flattery and applause: but this prince had never enjoyed the privilege of reading the poetic works of Robert Burns, where, amidst numerous pithy hints for the correction of self-misunderstanding, he might have dropped upon, and profited by, the following stanza :

"Oh, would some power the gifty gee us,

To see ourselves as others see us;

It wad frae many a blunder free us,
And silly notion;

And airs in gait and dress would lea' us,
And, e'en, devotion."

But, so it was; time was moving on smoothly and kindly between prince and subject; each conciliated more to each, and all partaking of that increase of pleasurable feelings which is wont to accompany and improve a condition of bodily and mental health.

Thus might this happy province-happy in its delivery from the leeches-have become the asylum of health, and the promise of longevity; but-give me buts and ifs, as a bold man was wont to say, and I'll fight the D; but,-that the dark malignant spirit

of the man whose "bones are marrowless," urged at length by the bitterness of disappointment into deadly wrath at the decrease of funerals and of mourners, where his depredations had long proved so extensive and so frequent, determined to bestir himself for the recovery of his business.

"I have," muttered Death, as he stalked the ground, which shrank and blackened at his tread, "two considerations to resolve: first, what promises to furnish the surest plan for the restoration of the wonted, full, and gloomy callings of my office; secondly, by what measures I shall most easily and speedily, succeed in it. Touching the first consideration," said Death, "I perceive it admits of instant decision. The effects of the decree, by which I find that the leeches were my supporters, my most effective friends, serve to teach me that the decree must be unconditionally reversed; the men of physic must be recalled; they must be reinstated in all their privileges and immunities, and be let loose as heretofore upon the inhabitants of the province-of the capital, more especially-in the unbridled exercise of their accustomed practices. The man of dry and naked bones received that sensation of sullen gratification, when reflecting upon his plan, which no