I must bustle with the crowd, and find but he can't-and, in the meantime, something to do in it, though, as to the dog is so silken, and so obedient what, I find it easier to question than -and that very same ready complicome to any satisfactory conclusion. ance which is intolerable in people There is a great change, I don't know whom one would desire to value, is so whether you observeit,in the faces upon excellent in the minor ministers to the pavé, since we were here together comfort, from whom we only expect last. And, contrary to the natural that they should do, without caring progress of things, it is the young for the motive! In spite of all this countenances chiefly that have disap- inconvenience, I want something-in peared.

short, I have earned none of it-it Some of our coffee-room acquaint- does not flatter my vanity-I want a ance have taken up, and married. One “character"-and'I wish I had staid or two-they make a sad history alto- ten years ago with you in the army. gether-have been taken up; and nar- It is the very devil to be growing rowly escaped the other lot arranged old as a person of no peculiarity; for man by destiny. Several are lite known only as Mr So and So, who has rally beggared-starving in gaols and an estate worth “ so much.” Mixed bridewells—whom I recollect, and you up--and no resource !-with the must recollect also, rioting in this very crowd who lose money at Newmarket house. Some have married prostitutes, -belong to the clubs-keep opera and eat the “ allowances” of fools as girls-drivegood carriages and might gross, and blackguards almost as filthy, have sold soap and whipcord, instead is themselves. Many rub on still, and of doing any of these things, if some contrive to be seen in the circle by a one else had not acquired the means Uttle game, where anybody will bet, which they are worthlessly dissipaand a little swindling, where anybody pating. I protest, I think there is not will trust. And some of the elder and a footman who raises himself by his stouter thrive by a sort of—seeing own works to any place, or estimayoung gentlemen fairly through their tion, who is not-in the mere scale property-lacqueying, bullying, and of creation-an incomparably nobler fighting, for the worst of the new be thing than any of these drones, with ginners.

whom I am in a fair way to be incluIn truth, it would seem odd, I dare ded. say, that a man should turn virtuous And then, for the means of notofor such a currish reason as that other riety within the circle that endures people chose to be knaves as well as us-what a circle it is, and what a himself; but I do begin to think, since notoriety when all is done! The wearI have been this time in London, that ing always a very particular dressdisrespectability is not so desirable as -the uglier by far the better-riding it used to be. With all the advantages in a particularly absurd vehicle ; or which large means afford; and the being at play a particular dupe. Figreatest, as I take it, is the means guring in the eighteenth intrigue of a they give of shutting out the world new actress-say it is the first after -of escaping always from the offence she becomes known in London-the that a compulsory commixture with former seventeen having occurred, any class or portion of society reflects without any figuring at all, when she upon you— With all the power which travelled, by caravan, through the they give of commanding this soli- country, and had no more dream of tude; and, moreover, that constant “settlement,” or “equipage,” than ot leisure, which is almost worth the pri- being translated to the skies; or pervacy-it is much ! and, in England, haps exposing a man's own person to wealth only can supply it-With all be laughed at, at a shilling per head, the means of having no such thing as on the

stage at some watering-place, an obligation upon one for years toge- — (for in town the fear of pippins is ther; of pursuing any absurdity which before the eyes of rogues, and they whim, passion—no matter what-sug- don't venture)-doing that—and as a gests, without hinderance or impedi- matter to be proud of-which would ment; of finding all the petty incon- not produce thirty shillings a-week, if veniences of life smoothed down to it were done as a matter of profit; and your hand-every knave meeting you which, for fifteen, half the people at with a delighted smile-you know he Bartlemy fair would do better, or would cut your throat, if he could would not be permitted to do at all!

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Here's enough almost to drive a man tiations or have seen the Russian into being sober and honest.” And campaign-I envy, and, what is I wish again, that I had staid in the worse, honour the caitiffs-to my own army; or that there could spring up great personal disparagement and adanother Waterloo, which a man might mitted disqualification. thrust his head into, and so gain a All the feats that I ever did in my little reputation within ten days after life they are immeasurably great ; the date of his commission; for, to but there are so very few I dare confess stand as a soldier, in the presence of to: If anything should strike you, by men who have fought twenty cam- which a man (with an easy leap) might paigns—that's worse even than obscue achieve honour or dignity, mention it rity, Something I'll soon attempt, when you write again; for, or else, I that's certain ; but whether to become shall be obliged to retire, as a country a legislator-that's not a bad pursuit gentleman. Meantime, with thanks for a man to take up, who knows no- to the Lady Susan, for so far honourthing of any pursuit at all-or to com- ing me, I believe I know sufficient of mit some very unheard-of outrage, the language to return her inclosure that people may say—“That's MrEd- in a practicable state. If I might wards, who is suspected to have stolen “advise,” however-seeing she is reBlackfriars'-bridge,” when I come in- solved to patronise letters-a collection to a room—which I have not yet de- kept the wrong way--noting down the termined.

absurdities of people rather than their Absolutely, I am tired if I could beauties-would be far more easily but escape from it-of mere worth- maintained than that which she prolessness and futility; and when I meet poses ; and, I should think, more enmen who make brilliant speeches— tertaining. write glorious books—conduct nego

ABJURATION.
THERE was a time--sweet time of youthful folly !

Fantastic woes I courted, feign'd distress;
Wooing the veiled phantom, Melancholy,

With passion born, like Love, “ in idleness."

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And like a lover, like a jealous lover,

I hid mine idol with a miser's art,
(Lest vulgar eyes her sweetness should discover,)

Close in the inmost chambers of mine heart.

And there I sought her-oft in secret sought her,

From merry mates withdrawn, and mirthful play,
To wear away, by some deep stilly water

In greenwood lone, the livelong summer day,

Watching the Aitting clouds, the fading flowers,

The flying rack athwart the wavy grass ;
And murm'ring oft, “ Alack ! this life of ours-

Such are its joys so swiftly doth it pass.”

And then, mine idle tears (ah, silly maiden !)

Bedropt the liquid glass, like summer rain-
And sighs, as from a bosom sorrow-laden,

Heaved the light heart, that knew no real pain.
And then, I loved to haunt lone burial-places,

Pacing the church-yard earth with noiseless tread-
To pore in new-made graves for ghastly traces,

Brown crumbling bones of the forgotten dead :
VOL. XIX.

D

To think of passing bellsof death and dying

Methought 'twere sweet in early youth to die, So loved, lamented-in such sweet sleep lying,

The white shrowd all with flowers and rosemary

Strew'd o'er by loving hands ! But then 'twould grieve me

Too sore forsooth! the scene my fancy drew
I could not bear the thought, to die and leave ye;

And I have lived, dear friends! to weep for you.

And I have lived to prove, that fading flowers

Are life's best joys, and all we love and prize What chilling rains succeed the summer showers,

What bitter drops, wrung slow from elder eyes. And I have lived to look on Death and dying,

To count the sinking pulse—the short'ning breathTo watch the last faint life-streak flying-flying

To stoop-to start to be alone with Death.

And I have lived to wear the smile of gladness,

When all within was cheerless, dark, and cold When all earth's joys seem'd mockery and madness,

And life more tedious than "a tale twice told."

And now and now pale pining Melancholy!

No longer veil'd for me your haggard brow In pensive sweetness--such as youthful folly

Fondly conceited - I abjure ye now. Away--avaunt! No longer now I call ye

“Divinest Melancholy! Mild, meek maid !" No longer may your siren spells enthral me,

A willing captive in your baleful shade.
Give me the voice of mirth-the sound of laughter

The sparkling glance of pleasure's roving eye.
The past is past.--Avaunt, thou dark Hereafter !

“Come, eat and drink-a-to-morrow we must die."

So, in his desp’rate mood, the fool hath spoken-a

The fool whose heart hath said, “there is no Gost.”. But for the stricken heart, the spirit broken,

There's balm in Gilead yet. The very rod,

If we but kiss it, as the stroke descendeth,

Distilleth balm to allay th' inflicted smart,
And “ Peace, that passeth understanding,” blendeth

With the deep sighing of the contrite heart.

Mine be that holy, humble tribulation

No longer feigned distress-fantastic woe I know my griefs—but then my consolation

My trust, and my immortal hopes I know.

C.

MATILDA ; A TALE OF THE DAY."

It certainly does appear a little ex* promising. There appeared to us somea traordinary, that England at the pre- thing Lane-and-Newmanish about it, sent day should be unable to boast the a certain indescribable redolence of possession of a single distinguished Leadenhall Street, by no means tempt novelist, and that the higher honours ing to a nearer approach. Above all, of that department of literature should the book had been enveloped from its so long have rested in abeyance. Mrs birth in so dense an atmosphere of Radcliffe and Miss Austin (the very puff; and Colburn had so disgusting, antipodes to each other) are gone ; and ly besmeared it with his slime and Madame d'Arblay, in the “Wander- slaver, that we involuntarily set it er," has afforded convincing proof of down for one of those catchpenny the decay of her literary powers, at no “ Works of Importance” with which time very varied or extensive. It is that most imaginative bookseller so true, Theodore Hook is yet at his Pe- frequently delights to surprise us, rihelion, but much as we admire this and the claims of which are always gentleman's talents, and sympathize to be estimated in an inverse ratio to in his virtuous antipathy to steel forks, the inflation of the panegyric by which and servants in cotton stockings ; and they are announced. We did, howcordially as we applaud his persevering ever, read the book at last. The story exertions to reform the Criminal Code we found to be perhaps the most by imposing signal punishment on the hackneyed and commonplace in the depravity of drinking porter, and eat- whole circle of novel-writing, and one ing with a knife, we are not quite con- which had already fifty times at least vinced that the brilliance of anything run the gauntlet of the Circulating he has yet said or done, entitles him to Library. The characters appeared to be quoted as an exception. Ireland put forth but trifling claims to origican at least produce one name, and nality or vigour of conception, and the Scotland several, (we do not speak of incidents to be very few, and not very the author of Waverley, for he" is like skilfully arranged. Out of such una star, and dwells apart,"') with which hopeful materials, however, has the England has absolutely none to put in author managed to construct a tale of competition. Where, we should be no ordinary interest and beauty. He glad to know, is the English Miss seems to have encountered difficulties Edgeworth? Or what production of merely for the sake of surmounting the present age will they oppose to them, to have voluntarily multiplied “ The Inheritance ?” A work which, the obstacles to success only to render when considered as the production of his triumph the more signal and coma female, stands unrivalled in our na plete. He leads us along a beaten tional literature, and unites the ori, track, but is continually laying open ginality and power sometimes, though new beauties to our view. He launches rarely, to be met with in our sex, with his little skiff against wind and curthe more delicate and softer beauties rent, and it is impossible not to admire peculiar to her own. We trust that the grace with which she breasts the the effect of the applause she has al- waters, and stretches gallantly for her ready gained, has been to stimulate, destined haven. not satiate, the ambition of this ac- The secret of all this is, that the complished lady; that she will not author of these volumes is a very clesuffer her talent to slumber, nor rest ver and accomplished person. There her sickle from its task, till she has is an air of elegance diffused over the fully reaped that abundant harvest of whole work, and he has far more than fame, with which her perseverance compensated for the want of novelty must undoubtedly be crowned. in his materials, by the fineness of his

But Matilda- :-we confess we allow. tact, and the felicity of his execution. ed these volumes to lie a whole month His pictures of high life in particular, on our table unread. To the lynx eye though drawn with a light and sketchy of a critic, the title did not seem very pencil, and not very carefully finish

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* London. Henry Colburn. 1825.

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ed in the minuter details, are well ports its gorgeous burden unnoticed and skilfully grouped, and marked in -we are not drilled into the matheir easy and flowing outlines by the nual and platoon exercise of silver hand of a master. It is quite visionary forks and finger glasses--the St Peray to expect such pictures from any but sparkles unrecorded, and not one of a denizen of this closest of all corpo- the party is damned to everlasting rations, the members of which, in the fame, for wearing a coarse neckcloth, true spirit of our Scottish borough sys- or a Cornelian ring. Lord Normanby, tem, maintain the privilege of electing however, is no mean artist, and has each other. There is no community succeeded wonderfully in transferring in which the Alien bill is more ri. to his canvass even the most shadowy gidly enforced than in the common- and evanescent hues of the caineleon wealth of fashion- none of whose laws fashion. Of this we think no further and constitution the maxim, “ Odi evidence will be required than is afprofanum vulgus et arceo,' forded by the following extract:strictly adopted as the ruling principle. The discovery of the North-west pas

“ It was early in the month of July,

when that most valuable department of sage is not more beset with difficul. ties than that of a navigable pas- shionable Arrangements, contained, a

the daily press, which is headed • Fasage for merchantmen to the drawingrooms of Grosvenor Square and Park mong many other pieces of information,

which, however intrinsically important, Lane. When a stray plebeian, from his ders, the two following paragraphs :

would not be so interesting to my reatalents as a jester or buffoon, succeeds in obtaining the envied privilege of Angustus Arlingford) is arrived at Mi

" Lord Ormsby (late the Honourable sitting, by sufferance, at great meu's vart's Hotel, after an absence of two feasts,” he is aware that he holds this

years on the Continent.' honour by too precarious a tenure, to * • Lord and Lady Eatington will this feel very

much at his ease. His at- day entertain a distinguished party at tention is too much occupied by the their splendid mansion in Grosvenor pomp and circumstance by which he Square. is surrounded-he is too morbidly “ That intelligence of this description apprehensive of betraying his own should have attracted every eye, is not to vulgarity by a failure in the most tri. be wondered at, when it is recollected, fling ceremonial; too sedulous in his that, as the advance of the season had conformance to all the petty obser- diminished the number of these events, vances of the entertainment, to have the type in which they were announced either the leisure or composure of mind liad proportionably increased in size and necessary for observations on character. importance; and many an absent fair In recording his experience of high one, who had been prematurely hurried life, therefore, it is quite natural that from chalked floors to green fields, had such a person should entirely overlook

now no other resource than to make those finer and less tangible peculiari- that a distant study which was no longer ties, by which the very highest circle

a present pleasure. But be this as it of society is distinguished froin that may, a little before eiglıt, on the day immediately beneath it, and reserve his above mentioned, the first carriage was descriptive eloquence for the candela

heard to come clattering up South Audbras, and gilt plate, the routine of the ley-street, containing Lord George Dardinner table, the splendour of the

ford and Henry Penryn; two youths, liveries, and the portly dignity of the

comprehensively described butler. But this is not what we want lucky, my father wanting the carriage

• Young men about town.'- Very un- and this is not what Lord Norman- afterwards," said Lord George— I do so by (for he is the acknowledged author hate to be early. The half-hour introof Matilda) has given us. The luxu

duction to a dinner, like the preface to a rious appliances of aristocratic society, book, should always be skipped.' so novel and imposing to the imagina- « « One might know one was too early, tion of a vulgar Parvenu, are to him the fellow drives so fast,' said Mr Penfamiliar as the air he breathes, and

ryn, as they swung round the last corner, therefore quite as likely to pass unno- at the risk of annihilating a pensive nurticed. In Matilda, we encounter sery-maid, and all her pretty ones, at no descriptions of silk draperies, or one fell swoop.' Turkey carpets the sideboard sup I wonder whom we shall have at

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