aforesaid, though far away in Dorsetshire, and for the present in the embraces of a profligate anti-church rater, than to listen to his host, who, in his opinion, had sufficiently done all required of him, in the dinner he had given; and for the latter, the Colonel, he appeared not only like his entertainer, disposed to forget others, but likewise himself, and had dropped off into a comfortable snooze, spite of the persevering attacks of the head of the W.s.

Poor W., baffled in his attempt for directing his conversation in any particular quarter, with that senseless courage which frequently distinguishes the coward, opened now with a volubility on the whole rank and file of the party present, by pouring in an anecdote of some interest, the facts having recently transpired on this immediate coast. It was the loss of a poor fisherman at sea-native of the place-much respected-leaving a wife to deplore his loss, with six children, and another expected some time about quarter-day. Our host, in his narrative, was both animated and impressive, painting the desolate condition of the marine family of seven in striking colours, and describing the turbulence of the night in question with the force of true eloquence. The Prince was duly invested with becoming pity-Cincinnatus was recalled from Dorsetshire-and the Colonel begged pardon for being so rude.

"A mother and six children!" exclaimed the Nameless," all desolate-fatherless-Dear me ! and the widow expecting within a few weeks to-dear me !"

"Just so," responded W.; " and it is moreover one of those melancholy facts by no means uncommon here."

But has there been no assistance given-no subscription raised for the helpless ones?" demanded the other.

"Oh, yes," was the reply; "a subscription was immediately set on foot, and many have contributed."

"Then, my worthy friend, W.," continued his august visiter, thrusting his hand into his pocket, and pulling out two sovereigns," may I request you will add my name to-morrow to the list already-you know I am off early in the morning-and Heaven send them further comfort!"

What was the Agamemnon dilemma to this! Unhappy W.! he wished heartily he had been a companion in that identical boat, and perished With his friend's money already in his hand, he was the very picture of despair.

too.

"Hadn't you rather-wouldn't it be better-" he was beginning; " but no, no," thought he, "worse and worse will follow-I'll hazard no more-disaster comes upon disaster-and yet, 'the worst remains behind!''

The great Obscure, with but little difficulty, held all this as the sudden effect of his munificence, and took up, therefore, the general line of remark as his friend W. had left it, pouring in such a torrent of eloquence on the great Christian duty of benevolence, that Pipkin modestly requested to be permitted a partaker in the delight of doing good, and a third sovereign was thereupon added.

The cry of "Land! land!" at sea, after a long voyage, is a most heartfelt sound, and so I apprehend is that of "Reprieve!" within the narrow walls of a condemned cell; but I much question whether either

of these could be a more welcome hearing than " Coffee is waiting in the drawing-room!" to our despairing master.

"Coffee is waiting!" His countenance verily did brighten, and springing on his feet with greater eagerness to be gone than quite befitted the giver of a feast, exclaimed, "Come, a glass of Madeira round!" and thus firing his challenge into the covey of his friends, he felt himself once again on shore. The very transit from one place to another was a relief, and the whole party were presently restored to the drawing-room.

With a little precaution, W. now calculated on getting through the residue of the night undisturbed. Certainly he took extreme pains to avoid his friend altogether, and, under the firm conviction of tutus cavendo, occupied a corner in the room with the immovability of a plaster divinity.

The clock indicated ten-coffee had passed away-" chasse" had followed, and the Prince, with his wonted " empressement," had just concluded a sly anecdote to Sophia, begging she would not divulge his name as authority for the scandal, when sundry vehicles were heard rolling up to the door. "Colonel Lomax's carriage" was presently announced; at the sound of which, the Colonel suddenly shook his head, as though the fibres of his nodding plume impeded his vision, and starting up, stood erect, as if he were about to undergo the ceremony of admeasurement. His placid lady languidly whispered she was ready; and while making her farewell, heard many regrets thereupon expressed, which, if they possessed half the sincerity of Pipkin's delight, must indeed have been highly flattering to the lady.

Soon after this" division," Cincinnatus Wharton, of course, "quitted the house," leaving the honourable member, "whose name we could not learn," in possession of the chair. The sublime Obscure still lingered-a moration which failed not to raise some misgivings with certain parties with all, in fact, now remaining, except the supple and re-encouraged Pipkin.

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But the dread Undiscovered now suddenly jumping up, and interrupting himself in the midst of an inquiry respecting the publication of the list of donations to the survivors in the county Mercury," gently laid his hand on the bell-rope, and pulling it at the time he spoke, demanded if he might be permitted to ring for Davison; but the act having already been accomplished, might have precluded the necessity for begging the aforenamed permission. The footman appeared; W. peeped from behind the damask hangings of the window, and my friend Charles exhibited a coolness which would have become a tactilian of far graver years than his own.

Pray, does it rain?" "demanded the man of mystery.

"Yes, sir, it pours."

"Then, will you be so good as to inquire if my fly is at the door?" "Your fly, sir?"

"If you please-'tis a wet night, and I usually engage my own carriage at these places. I protect myself, if possible, against all disappointments," the greater part of which speech being addressed to the fair Sophia, was also intended to imply, "I know you will think of me when I am gone."

"Your fly!" repeated the attendant, looking towards the great oc

cult. "His fly!" still continued he, turning in the direction of his

master.

"Idiot!" vociferated the enraged head of the W.'s, when springing on his feet, he sprang also to the door, and pushing the consterned Davison aside, plunged down the staircase, and passing the hall, spite of wind and weather, rushed uncovered into the street. Sure enough, a fly and driver were in attendance; on perceiving which, W., in rapid accents, exclaimed, "Flyman, my man! my good man-hark ye: you were ordered to be in waiting at this house by a certain hour?"

"Yes, sir,-half-past ten; and I'm somewheres about my time," replied the man, deliberately drawing out his watch.

"Good, good!" proceeded the other, "punctual and right; but listen what was the name of the gentleman for whom you were to inquire?"

"The name of the gentleman!-what, the gentleman's name who bid me come?"

"Yes, yes, I tell you!"

"A tall gentleman, you mean, sir; rather pock-marked?"

"Cannot you answer me-what name did he give you?"

"Why, sir, to say the truth, I didn't pay much account to that, seeing he would be sure to know this here fly again, for he picked me out o' the whole lot. But here's my name, sir, and address, too," continued the driver, pulling from his great-coat a pocket-book of small printed cards, "White Lion Yard, sir, down by the bathing-rooms."

Ill-starred W.! He did not rave-no, he was past that; but putting his hand to his forehead trickling with rain, and stamping in bitter earnest at every step, forced his way again into the house. Davison, who was still waiting in the hall as his disordered master entered, and seeing him turn into the dining-parlour, the door of which being as instantaneously locked, presented himself once more at the drawing-room en

trance.

"Did you say my fly was waiting ?" he was again asked.

"Yes, sir," replied the man, with a slight exhibition of doggedness. "Your fly is waiting; but as to master, sir, he appears to have been taken-"

"My father is subject to them," opportunely interrupted Charles. "Attacks of dizziness, which at times are absolutely alarming."

"Not brought on by our meeting to-day?" was the hope of him. whose name none could remember, and equally responded to by " Pipkin," which no one could forget.

But neither my young friend nor Sophia could here forbear a smile. "Perhaps, then, 'twas really so," said the Prince, apprehensively; "I see the motive of your silence-the fear of being thought a little too candid by me; but believe me, you don't know me."

"Ah! indeed, do we believe you," whispered his arch companion into the ear of her mother; " but he will be better-quite well to-morrow-a night's rest will perfectly restore him."

"Then he shall enter on his repose immediately," said the gracious Veiled; when, after indulging in certain gesticulate indications of departure, he made his obeisance to the lady of the mansion, and smiling an" adieu!" to Sophia, which again appeared to imply, "I'm sure you'll think of me," he took his leave. Pipkin, who had been through

out the evening a dim impression of the same plate, received his cue, and in a retrograde movement disappeared likewise.

""Tis all over at last!" exclaimed one of the family quartette, and each dropped with thankfulness into a seat.

Three minutes had not elapsed, when "le grotesque malheureux" entered the apartment, W. himself.

"Heaven be praised! this day of pleasure is at an end," cried he; "and what a day has it been! If there be gratitude in man, I am prepared to show it now."

But Charles and his sister laughed with the most joyous freedom. "Come, come! you make too much of this affair," observed the

mamma.

"Oh, no! I was upon thorns-writhing on stinging-nettles; I'm blistered from top to toe. And his money, too, a couple of sovereigns!"

Here again the party laughed aloud, and so hearty was the peel, that no one had heard the door somewhat abruptly opened, until the elder gentleman turning about, to his horror discovered the Prince of Darkness standing in the middle of the apartment!

A faint scream burst from the ladies. W. was once more a plaster divinity, while I verily believe his son entertained the unfilial persuasion of the present being the richest portion of the feast.

"Not only alive, but merry, too, I perceive!" shouted the undismayed one."Well, well! I am glad to find it so; but indeed, ladies, I have to beg your forgiveness."

"Go on, go on!" murmured W.; "let him proceed," and he buried his face between his hands.

"I am returned only for an instant," said he, "with a request that my young friend here, in executing a slight commission for me towill at the same time confer a considerable favour."

morrow,
But no comment being offered, he proceeded.

"In my stroll yesterday, I accidentally went into a sale-room just by, and could not resist bidding for a very charming or-molu time-piecethe subject, Bacchus and Ariadne-worthy Cellini himself; 'twas knocked down to me, and is to be packed for travelling by the auctioneer. Every thing is paid, but as I cannot conveniently carry it tomorrow with me, I have taken the liberty of saying that you, my friend Charles, would receive it. May I therefore beg you will do this, and see it properly addressed, that I may find it safely delivered on my return home from London? No, no! I'll not sit down again-'tis late --egad! I'd nearly forgotten my errand-now, don't stir! good night, and farewell till we meet again! Happy dream, Miss Sophia !—adieu, adieu!" and again he departed.

This second exit was by no means distinguished like the first, by the eruption of merriment. Matters had at length become serious, and Sophia began to apprehend that the joke might be carried too far with poor papa. Once more raising his head, he appeared to question with the appalled usurper, "Which of you have done this?" and throwing his eyes in the direction of the door, he shuddered even by the fireside.

"Have courage, sir," exclaimed Charles; "he is gone whence he came has scented the morning air, and the ghost's furlough is at an end." "Misery has no end.

"At an end!" interrupted his father.

Children, my resolution is fixed. To-morrow, early, I am resolved to discover this legate of Erebus-confess the whole-appeal to his humanity-if the devil have one-create a proper trust for the money in my hand, take a new assignment of Bacchus and Ariadne; nor will I refuse, on assurance of his forgiveness, to receive in bond every molten deity in the Pagan Mythology."

And the morrow did arrive. The clock had already struck eight, when W. prepared for passing his threshold, with that artificial composure which a man, who is about to fight a duel, flatters himself is most exemplary courage. At this moment, a loud single rap was heard at the yellow entrance, and Davison announced a waiter from the Hotel. Holding between the thumb and finger of his right-hand a small oblong piece of pasteboard, "The gentleman," said the messenger, who slept at our house last night and dined here yesterday, has left for London early this morning by the Taglioni,' and desired me to bring you this card, sir, hoping that you may have found yourself better after a night's rest."

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W., seizing the card, and gazing an instant upon it with straining eyeballs, exclaimed, "Mr. John Puzzlethwait!"

THE CAROL OF THE CORONATION.

BY SIR LUMLEY SKEFFINGTON.

IN flowery meads, the radiant rose
Triumphant holds her station;
Nor can the fancy interpose
More beautiful creation.

The morning star, enthron'd in light,
A glimpse of Heaven discovers;
Beams with a splendour mildly bright,
And wakes ten thousand lovers.

The rose, the star, we crown to-day,
In one bless'd maid combining!

These, in Victoria, well portray
Refinement still refining.

Now talent, wisdom, genius, worth,
In purity are given;

Such visitation to the earth,

Anticipates her Heaven.

These lines have hitherto been withheld from publication by the diffidence of their author. This, however, has been overcome by the solicitation of his friends, and all we can say is, "better late than never."-ED.