franchise with enthusiasm, but with an order and decency, which never could be preserved even by the small assemblages of their ex-masters. The Tories have been beaten from their strongest citadel. The spiders have been crushed in the inmost web of their machinations. The party has not been defeated but annihilated. Before the termination of the Edinburgh Election, Mr J. A. Murray was returned for Leith, his antagonist's heart dying within him at the sight of the assembled electors. In Glasgow the utmost efforts of the Tories, joined to the silly dissensions of the Reformers, were yet able to do no more than return a Reformer, who, for old acquaintance sake, was less unpalatable to the oppressors than men who had through life been opposed to them. In Dundee, Mr Kinloch of Kinloch received the reward of his long and fearless services. The St. Andrews, Kirkaldy, Stirling, Ayr, Kilmarnock, and Dumfries districts, have all returned Reforming Members. Mid-Lothian, at the period at which we write, is all but secure; although Haddingtonshire is likely to remain in the hands of the Tories. Sad mismanagement renders the result of the Linlithgowshire Election more than doubtful. But elsewhere, the Tories are

"Drooping as the leaves do,
To die in December."

The result of the Irish Elections remains uncertain, up to the time of our going to press. From what is already known, the Ministry will have a tremendous hold on the new House of Commons; and it cannot be denied, that that House will represent most accurately, the sentiments of the middle classes throughout the country. We see the promotion of several eldest sons of Peers to the Upper House announced; which looks as if Ministers were about to bestir themselves. The fate of the country is in their hands, or more properly speaking, in the hands of that Parliament which is to hold them up. Our only ground of fear, is their want of boldness. If they unhesitatingly carry through such trenchant measures of Reform, as are enough to convince the labouring, and, in a great measure, unenfranchised classes, that they are in earnest, all will be well; if not, we are still at sea. We invite the attention of our new Legislature to the following important questions:-The Ballot, Triennial Parliaments, paid Members of Parliament, and partial extension of the Suffrage.-Equalization of all Christian communities in the eye of the law, and diminution of Church Burdens.-Abolition of Corporations in England, and the Old Burgh System in Scotland.-Commutation of Tithes, Abolition of Hop and Malt Tax, and of the Corn Laws,-Abolition of the Entails, and the Law of Primogeniture.-Abolition of all Restrictions upon Trade. Introduction of a graduated Property-Tax.

THE TROUBADOUR.

SPECIMEN OF AN UNPUBLISHED METRICAL ROMANCE.

"TWAS prime of noon, and Branston's lord,

The gayest of his festal board,

Joy beaming in his clear blue eye,

Sat on the dais of honour high,
O'erlooking all the princely hall,

Where knights and ladies, dight in pall,
Rained largesse on the Bard that sung
The glories of De Vere the young;
But aye bright Guy Fitzhaubert's strain
Was sweetest of the minstrel train.
Much did he sing of knightly glory,
Yblent with Love's endearing story:
And thus flowed forth the parting hour
Of Annet and her Troubadour:—

Gay spring budded on field and tree, the bloom was on the flower,
And silver light shone on the sea, at matin's dewy hour,
When Eric sang, with harp in hand, before his lady's bower,
The last song of his native land,—the gallant Troubadour!
"My sword is belted to my side, my casque is on my brow;
And, lo! to cleave the yielding tide, yon galley turns her prow.
My comrades muster on the strand, the silver trumpets bray,
And I must to the Holy Land, my liege lord leads the way;
Yet ere upon the battle plain, the gallant legions pour,
O, ladye love, do not disdain to bless thy Troubadour !
"Although no blazoned shield I boast, nor far-descended name,
My sword amidst the Paynim host shall carve a deathless fame;
And in the thickest of the fight, where proudest warriors die,
Both Moslem chief and Christian knight shall hear my battle-cry.
Thy name shall echo through the plain in danger's darkest hour;
Then, ladye love, do not disdain to bless thy Troubadour!
"When far on blood-stained Gallilee, the red-cross warriors roam,
Haply some favoured minstrel's glee will waft their thoughts to home.
Amidst the sterile, desert sands, and 'neath the blazing skies,
The verdure of their native land, her streams and vales arise,
My harp shall wake for thee the strain, at noon-tide's burning hour;
Then, ladye love, do not disdain to bless thy Troubadour!"

Whilst Eric sung, entranced he gazed, in ecstasy divine;
When, lo! a hand the lattice raised, aud spread the trellissed vine;
And then a snow-white scarf was flung from his dear ladye's bower;
And thus the blushing Annet sung to bless her Troubadour :-
"Go, warrior, go! if maiden's love, her faith and constancy,
Can ere the soldier's solace prove, thou hast them all from me.
My secret vows were ever thine, though ne'er before confest,
I swear it by the holy sign that glitters on thy breast:
And may its blessings from me flee, at my expiring hour,
If ever I prove false to thee, my gallant Troubadour.
"Within yon pious hermit's cell, still daily will I mourn;
Like cloistered nuns my beads I'll tell, and pray for thy return;
And in our convent's chapelrie, at eve and matin hour,

I'll weary every saint for thee, my gallant Troubadour.

"Then go; and may St. Elmo's light, thy bark in safety guide,

From storm by day, and rocks by night, through yon dark rolling tide;

And well I know Our Ladye's aid amidst the bloody field,

Ay, and thine own good battle blade, will be thy safest shield,

But, hark!-my sire!-our parting knell rings through my lonely bower; He calls me-oh! farewell, farewell, my faithful Troubadour !"

TAIT'S COMMONPLACE BOOK.

ST. STEPHEN'S AND "THE FANCY."-" John Gully, Esq. of Ackworth Park," ex-pugilist, and fisty-cuff champion of all England, is about to represent the ancient and loyal borough of Pontefract in the reformed Parliament! fighting one's way through the world after all. It is hard to tell on what subject There is nothing like Jack is ambitious to legislate, or what odds he would give or take on his race as a senator. They say that as an orator he is quite a "fancy" man; though prone to argue in a circle, his remarks are of the most striking description, and generally smashers. John is a horrid Radical; and the Conservatives consider his election to be one of the severest blows the Constitution ever received.

MERCY OF THE LONDON FOLICE!-A piece of humbug is running the round of the papers, about the respite of a ruffian named Sutton, condemned to death for a brutal assault upon one of the new police, at whose merciful intercession (backed by a declaration that the commutation of the sentence would be "agreeable to the feelings of the whole body!!") his life is to be spared. This is a sorry trick to make palatable to the Cockneys, the new police force, which is in terrible mauvaise odeur. A schoolboy could see through the clumsy device, and it will fail. The police will take nothing for their generosity, and a desperado is spared to society whom society would be mightily pleased to spare. Who was the deep dog that originated this transparent manœuvre ?

CORPORATE MEATINGS.-We are told by one of the Sunday prints that "the Corporation of London had a meating last week!" print was accidental, or designed by some chuckling wag of a compositor, it is "Whether this felicitous misdifficult to decide; inferring analogically from past events, however, by which Meetings invariably terminate in MEATINGS, we are disposed strongly to recommend the new orthography for especial adoption by the Corporation of London, as indicative of the two-fold purpose uniformly implied by their summonses of convocation.

COURT CIRCULARS.-The greater part of the paragraphs which the newspapers quote from the "Court Circular," are often a disgrace to their columns, their readers, and the very age we live in. they are concocted by the parties or personages whose names figure away therein, it For what object (reason is out of the question) is impossible to conceive: it cannot be to "keep them before the public," because the drivelling sickening absurdity of the announcements would heap such a mass of shame upon them, as the warmest aspirant after notoriety would hardly find it his ambition to covet. At the expense of a little contempt, we might forgive the impertinence which informs us that "the Right Honourable Fum Fitz-fusbos visited the Admiralty yesterday," on the score of the hollow empty-headed vanity, which it is Fum's pleasure to display before a gaping nation; but why Royalty should be so over-fond of parading their titles and their deeds to the lazy loyalty of this most thinking people, is indeed a marvel. Who, for instance, cares to be told that "in consequence of the rain and wind which blew from the N.E. yesterday noon, the Princess Augusta was prevented taking her usual promenade," or that "Prince George of Cumberland, attended by his tutor, the Rev. Mr. Jelf, visited the Park on Thursday, and blew his royal nose with considerable energy?" It is useless to multiply quotations; we heartily wish the absurdity done away-it brings into contempt the names of persons which better grace an honourable privacy, and it answers no purpose but to raise one's bile.

THE SIEGE OF ANTWERP.-Never, surely, has war been accompanied by more of odium, folly, and wickedness, than that bloody farce which is now being acted before Antwerp. It makes the flesh creep to think upon that murderous, monstrous, extravagant absurdity. Hundreds of lives have already been lost, and hogsheads of human blood are still destined to flow for one of the most abominable follies, surely, that the historian ever had to record. It is not for the possession of a city that the struggle is made,—that is gained; it is not for the chances of mastery that the Citadel is attacked,-none exist; the particular object is sure to be obtained, and by a given

time. The two generals write notes to one another, determining the points of attack and resistance in the most courteous imaginable manner, devising schemes for the least possible loss of life, and destruction to the habitations; and conveying, like gentlemen well bred and punctilious, the assurance of the high consideration with which each has the honour to be the mortal enemy of the other. The letter bearers who deliver their packages, are escorted back with the answer-and, pop! both go to work again like Trojans good and true. And the result of all this murder is as well and confidently known to both, to their countries, government, and to the surrounding states, as though it had actually taken place; and yet it is allowed, and honour, and valour, and loyalty, and chivalry, is breathed about as flippantly as if it was the holiest contest that ever engaged the anger of the oppressed. Detestable as is the very name of war, the thing might perhaps be tolerated if there were a chance, a possibility, however remote, of ultimate, effectual resistance; but here is none, literally, positively, undeniably, none; and yet men consent to be battered down to death for the pleasure (!) of the King! This cold-blooded butchery, this slaughterous waste of life, for the obstinacy of one man, is enough to make one blush for his very nature.

WANTS AND CAPABILITIES.-We are never so much tempted to moralize. There is not one as after a perusal of the advertising columns of the Times. want which frail humanity is heir to," that has not as its counterpart a power of assauging its smart existing in the person of some other human being. The mischief is, that even the bland whispers of the Brobdignaggian go-between we have named, do not always succeed in making patient and physician aware of each other's existence. There is something intensely pathetic in many of the sighs which exhale from the damp surface of that broadsheet. What hope can be held out to a “respectable young woman without followers?" who is so unreasonable as to desire a situation "as nursery-maid where there is no infant ?" Or, to a "respectable strong youth," who will only be satisfied with the office of "light porter?" Both must pine unheeded, unless they agree to meet and sigh to each other. They are, indeed, "two for a pair." The following we are inclined to think rather suspicious :-" A lady of 30 years of age is desirous of meeting with a situation as useful companion. She is naturally cheerful, and to an invalid, flatters herself she would be an acquisition."Dear creature! who could find in his heart to shut the door in her face? We fear, however, she has no chance against the experience of a widow. "Wanted, by a respectable widow, age about 36, and free from every incumbrance, a situation to superintend the concerns of a widower. To one who has a family, she flatters herself she would be an acquisition," &c. Who doubts it ? We will back the widow for a rump and dozen they are man and wife in a month. These widows! Here is another: A widow lady, of most respectable connexions, wishes for a situation to manage the domestic establishment of a widower or single gentleman. She feels confident of giving satisfaction." This is plain enough; but there is another still plainer. The noose matrimonial dangles in every sentence. "A widow, respectably connected, wishes a situation as housekeeper to a single gentleman or widower. She flatters herself she would be found an acquisition, as she is competent, and would not object, to superintend the education of the younger branches of his family." What! not of the single gentleman's?" Oh, fie!

POSTHUMOUS GARRULITY.-We remember to have read, in some gossiping anecdotic work,-Walpole, Wraxall, or St. Simon,-of the lying in state of a French Princess, arrayed, according to the prevailing custom of the times, in full court dress, long white gloves, &c. &c.; in the course of which lugubrious ceremonial, the royal corpse was observed from time to time to lift up its dead hand, and blow its dead nose. It appears that her Royal Highness having died of an imposthume in the head, it was found indispensable that a lady of the bedchamber should conceal herself behind the body, and enable it to minister to this mortal necessity. The crowd admitted to view the funeral pageant, ignorant of this arrangement, were, however, naturally surprised at the posthumous activity of the Princess; just as many of Byron's friends (acquainted with his taciturnity on certain subjects, and his contempt of blues and precieuses) are amazed at the streams of loquacity now pouring forth under his name. They do not give sufficient credit to the activity of the lady of the bedchamber concealed behind the illustrious dead!

ULTIMUS ROMANORUM.-The star of the ascendant of departed Majesty, the real Georgium Sidus, has set for ever. Stultz, the immortal Stultz! the Hungary tailor,

as he was baptized by Brummel,-the Baron von Göthenberg, as he was heraldized by the Emperor,—STULTZ is no more! He who led a pattern life, whose measures were unimpugnable, whose operations were at once fitting and becoming, has fallen beneath the shears of destiny. Scarcely an ornament of the Georgian era now survives, and the Baron von Stultz may be regarded as the "Last Man" of the world of Carlton House. It would be scandalous to pass over his death in silence, who, during his lifetime, received all but divine honours. The Roman Emperor made a Consul of his horse it was reserved for an Austrian one to ennoble a tailor!

GREAT MEN." A great man," says Montesquieu, in his Lettres Persannes, "is one who sees the King, is familiar with ministers, has ancestors and debts, a pension or a place. If, in addition to all this, he can manage to conceal his inertness by an officious air, and his ennui by affected gaiety, he is a lucky man as well as a great one." This description is intended to depict the Parisian nobleman of 1718!

LITERARY SENATORS.-Il faut opter!-We have long been of opinion that the career of the literary man, and the career of the politician, are parallel, and inca. pable of junction; and accordingly reverence the firmness and candour with which the great Irish lyrist has rejected the mantle thrust upon him by his worshippers. Many great statesmen, it is true, have written books; but it is not by their books they are remembered; nor can we recall an instance of any voluminous author having made a figure in Parliament. The bloom of his spirit is shed elsewhere; and though Prior was a diplomatist, Addison, a Secretary of State, Waller and Steele, Senators, we do not conceive that the country was ever much the better for their political labours. There is an essential distinction of faculty between the minds of our men of letters and our Conscript Fathers; many qualities indispensable to a legislator, are unavailing to the calm, contemplative, deliberative, plodding, primming, correcting, polishing man of type and printer's ink. The first object with an author, who has generated a brilliant or original idea, is to wrap the bantling in the choicest robes, adorn it with a coral and bells, and parade it about for the admiration of the world. The first point to a politician who conceives a new opinion, is, on the contrary, to divest it of all flaunting drapery, strip it naked, and examine it with jealous scrutiny; lest, under the deceptious garb of Mentor, he should admit some artful goddess into his confidence. A man who has once coquetted with the favour of the public upon hot-pressed paper, seldom surmounts the fever fit of vanity occasioned by the excitement; and even in the gravest debate, the notion of himself, the notion of the sufferings he has to conciliate, of the press, the clubs, the coteries, the universe,-clips his wings, qualifies his opinions, and perplexes his better judgment. So great is he in his own conceit, that the shadow of himself eclipses the subject be fore him. A great legislator never thinks of himself. If he attempts to produce a strong sensation in the house, it is for the sake of his country,-for the triumph of the cause to which he has bound himself. Like the Brahmins who conceal themselves under the car of Juggernaut to roll forward the stupendous machine, they are careful to remain out of sight, that the triumph of the deity they serve, may be all in all Your author, on the contrary, arrays himself in the embroidered raiment of the Catholic priest, and by fantastic genuflexions and incense-offerings, renders himself as ostensible as possible. This authorship is always uppermost in his mind; and he is anxious to reflect upon his books, the distinction of his parliamentary triumphs, rather than impressed with a becoming sense of the mighty, enduring, and most responsible trust delegated to his guardianship. Instead of exclaiming with the Moor,

"It is the cause-it is the cause, my soul!"

he smiles, like Malvolio, in the fondness of his self-conceit.

THE RADICALS..-"Free and fair discussion of every tenet of political faith, however bold or speculative, characterizes the Press at the present eventful period. Proscriptions, gags, and other instruments of intimidation, we must now class with the things which were-with the burning of witches or the " divine right" of Monarchs. The force of public opinion may be said, in the first instance, to bring about events; but it is evident that the latter again work upon public opinion, giving it consistency, aud strength, and boldness. In these latter days, the Radicals, formerly an insignificant and isolated body, have taken a bold and prominent place in the ranks of political sectarians. Their numbers have increased to an extraordinary extent; and, of course, their weight and importance has been proportionably augmented. If they de not surpass the Whigs or Tories in wealth and talent, we are inclined to concede 2 N NO. X.-VOL. II.