whether he was ever involved in an unpleasant altercation with the author he had abused.

"Why, sir, I very much doubt, whether all the authors in existence could put me down, if they were to unite their talents for that purpose. Admitting their success for a moment, faction, sir, faction, in England, is always a refuge for the destitute. If the defects of my character were as numerous as state-pensions, and their existence as indubitable as the necessity of a loan;---if the incessant yell of such an infernal minority should drive me from the elevation of my critical tripod, I would wish no more than to identify my cause with either party ;---the bigots would reward me as a martyr; and possibly, under such circumstances, I might receive more from a slight effort of hypocrisy, than from the continued exertions of my present occupation. Besides, suppose that my hopes were driven from this. intrenchment, I should still have a dernier resort,---I could but turn patriot, edit a newspaper, or go to America.

'Besides, you forget, sir,' said he, 'that I am all this time unknown; I am but a rifleman in this warfare, and employed in bushfighting. Were I publicly to avow what I write, it is very possible that the known humility of my pretensions, would completely neutralize the venom of my pen. I was, it is true, once unfortunate in a similar way. You must know, on my debarkation from Holland, I was associated with a friend in a little astrological speculation ;---we calculated nativities,

published predictions in the almanacs, and settled the weather for the year ensuing. The late eccentric Lord, hearing of our fame, and being then on the eve of a matrimonial affair, waited upon us to cast his nativity after much turning over of books, I very gravely assured him of a benign aspect;---Venus and Mars being great in domal dignity, and both fortunate in their houses. But my own star was, in this instance, most opposite. For it so happened, that some brother of the trade had, that same day, assured his lordship that Jupiter was his ascendant, in partile conjunction with Saturn ;---he was so enraged at the contradiction, that he knocked me down, kicked me round my cell, and seizing the elegant brass conjuring wand from the hand of my worthy coadjutor, fairly bent it double over his shoulders before he quitted the apartment. Poor Abdallah's unfortunate evocation of the Dervise at Bagdad, scarcely procured him a severer cudgeling.

"Not two hours since, I promised immortality to a lady who waited upon me to purchase a critique; though I saw, from the first two lines, that the leaves of her poem were destined only to invest pounds of sugar, or to interpose their good offices, like a poursuivant, between the fiery indignation of an oven, and the tender foundation of a pork pie.

"What objection can a reasonable man make to my profession? It is but a tax upon vanity. I never applaud any one without being paid for it, and my censure is completely

devoid of malice, since I seldom read the works I abuse. In truth, I do not always confine myself to an author's writings; for, if he is much celebrated, any little anecdote of the follies or misfortunes of himself or his family sells still better than abuse of his performance.'

"Good this, was it not ?-Will you publish your maiden-speech?-Get it reviewed for you in grand style; depend on me.---Hear a good deal of that sort of thing now. ---Have an idea that Lady Jane Lorn is poetical!--Talking of her, though, don't let me forget an extraordinary piece of news.---You had a standing flirtation with her, if you remember; ---knew that your devotion in another quarter prevented any thing more serious. Since your rupture, Lady Jane had a scheme on Anthony Wodehouse ;---and both before and since that rupture, she has been actually planning on Sir Thomas Clervaux ;---in a fair way to be jilted by her, I fear. Thought Sir Thomas had had more sense ;---no judging from appearances, you know. All the world confoundedly surprised ;---makes as great a noise as Lord 's having appeared yesterday in Bond-street, with hair combed smooth and strait, no shirt-collar, very little neckcloth, a waist as long as his tailor's bill,--no stays! I do affirm, the fact is in controvertible and the rest en suite.---Looked dreadfully gauche, and don't think it will take: ---if it does, will certainly let you know. I will look to your interest in those essentials as

if it were my own. etiquette dictates, that

As a parliament-many

"I have the honour to be,
"Your's eternally,

"EDWARD SURREY."

"Sir Thomas has scarcely had time to congratulate himself on his liberty, before he is on the point of submitting to tenfold worse slavery," said Miss Argyle, breaking the painful pause that succeeded the reading of the letter, and referring immediately to that part most interesting to all parties.

"Such a feeling of liberty," said Grosvenor, "is similar to that which a criminal experiences on having his irons knocked off previously to his execution. Nothing less than the powerful fascinations of Lady Jane Lorn could have induced even the thoughtless Sir Thomas Clervaux to enter into such an union. He is trifling, but not vicious; and I think there is a means of saving him. He does not calculate that, on his marriage with Lady Jane, even the laugh of the drivellers with whom he associates will be against him, and I know he cannot endure the gay one's scorn, the trifler's contumely.' If Lord Montague will suffer me to say that he thinks it extremely ridiculous, I think it will be effectually prevented."

Lady Anne was silent, but she received Surrey's letter from the hand of Grosvenor

with a smile of beaming happiness, that assured him hope yet existed for him.

CHAP. XV.

Others in close recess apart,
Courted the ladies of their heart,
Nor courted them in vain ;
For often in the parting hour,
Victorious love asserts his power;

And flinty were her heart could view,
To battle march her lover true,

Could hear, perchance, his last adieu,
Nor own her share of pain!

SCOTT.

It was the gala night of the Dutchess of R

Never had Isadora shone in such transcendant brilliancy-never had the bewitching lustre of her beauty been so pre-eminent and conspicuous, as on this evening. The beautiful symmetry of her form was veiled, but not obscured, by a dress of silver tissue, that might well have been a vestment for the altar. The rival roses flourished in triumphant union on her cheek, whilst the continual variableness of her complexion, adding to her beauty, proved the omnipotence of intellect, by aiding the charms of person with a grace borrowed from mind alone. Her dark and haughty eye of fire beamed in meteor-like brilliancy, and thrilled the very soul of him on whom it rested in its rapid survey of the scenes around,-shaming the feeble lustre of the gems that encircled a brow, stamped with the impress of primeval purity and innocence,-inviting by its open