The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-09-28 00:00:00

A CAPRICIOUS VISITATION OF FORTUNE

(From Blackwood's Magazine)
Poor Dubois was one of that unhappy class, which we
are given to understand is dying out of Europe, (we hope
for the sake•of suffering humanity this is true) ; of that
class, which we in England used to call Grub-street poets.
Heflourished at the time of the Empire, and had been
flourishing during the whole of the eventful period that
preceded the elevation of Napoleon. Poor Dubois had
alternately applauded and satirised all parties; and written
songs for all sentiments ; but had extracted very little
either of praise or pocket-money from any of the feigning
powers, whether republican or imperial. He was quite
in despair. Still young kit years, but with worn-out
rhymes, he was lamenting one day to his sister his mel-
ancholy and hopeless fate. This damsel was in the ser-
vice of Pauline the sister of Napoleon. " Write me a
sonnet," said she, " about Pauline, and about beauty, and
let me try what I can do." A beautiful sonnet, and a
sonnet about beauty, are two very different things.
Dubois made nothing of his task, but did it out of hand ;
his sister took the sonnet with her.

...„
It was not long before she had an opportunity, in her
capacity of femme. de chambre, of speaking to Pauline
about her brother the poet. She produced her sonnet
about beauty. Pauline did not exactly read it ; no one
but the writer, and a few afflicted friends, and those heroic
souls who do things to say they have done them, ever do
read sonnets ; but she glanced her eye down the rhymes,
and saw her own name in harmonious, connexion with
some very sweet epithets. Therefore she asked' what
she could do for the poet--what it was he wanted Alas !
every thing ! was the prompt and candid reply,—some
little post, some modest appointment.
Now it happened that Fouche at that time was doing
his best to conciliate the fair Pauline, who, with or without
reason, had shown a little humour against the minister of
police. He had frequently entreated her to make use of
his power in favour of any of her friends. " Well," said
the good-natured Pauline, " this Fondle is always plagu-
ing me to ask for something ; give me my desk."
A lady's pen upon the smooth vellum—you know how
fleetly it runs, and what pretty exaggeration of phrase
must necessarily flow from it. The style, the very ele-
gance cf the note, demands it. Dubois was in an instant,
and most charmingly, converted into a man of neglected
genius and unmerited distress. What was the happy turn
of expression is lost to us for ever ; but as Fouche read
the note, he understood that there was a man of talent
to be assisted, and, what was still more to the purpose,
an opportunity of showing his gallantry to Pauline.
The next day the minister rode forth in state accom-
panied by four mounted Bens-d' armes. Following the
address which had been given him, he found himself in
one of the least inviting parts of Paris, far better known
to his own myrmidons of police than to himself. But,
arrived before the enormous pile of building, which was
said to enclose our poet amidst its swarm of tenants, he
made vain enquiries for Monsieur Dubois. At last an old
crone came to his assistance : she remembered him ; she
had washed for him, and had never been paid. If you do
not wish to be forgotten by all the world, take care there
is some one living to whom you are in debt.
Meanwhile Dubois, from his aerial habitation, had
heard his own name pronounced, and looking out at the
window caught sight of the gens-d' armes. For which of
his satires or libels he was tek undergo the honour of pro-
secution, he could not divine ; but that his poetical effu-
sions were at last to bring him into hapless notoriety,
was the only conclusion he could arrive at. That he was
still perfectly •safe, inasmuch as write what he would
nobody read, was the last idea likely to suggest itself to
the poet. He would have rushed down stairs, but steps
were heard ascending. So much furniture as a c-,pboard
may stand for, the bare walls of his solitary room did not
display. There was nothing for it but to lean into what
he called his bed, and hide beneath the blankets, always
presuming they were long enough to cover both extremi-
ties at one. The minister, undeterred by the difficulties
of the ascent, and animated by his gallantry towards
Pauline, continued to mount, and at length reached the
poet's retreat. Great are the eccentricities of genius, and
lamentable the resources of pride and poverty, thought
Fondle, as he gently drew the blankets down, and dis-
covered the dismayed Dubois. Son% conciliatory words
soon relieved him of his terror. The awful visit of the
minister of police had terminated—could it be credited !
, —in an invitation to breakfast with him next morning.

The Earl of Chichester has declined the appointment
of Chief Commissioner of Poor Laws.
Sir Harry Smith embarked at Portsmouth on Thursday
in the Vernon, for the Cape of Good Hope.
Very large importations of walnuts from Holland and
Belgium are just now taking place in London. Last week
four vessels arrived bringing upwards of 7,000 baskets full.
The match for 1,000 soya. between Van Tromp and The
Liberator is off, Lord Eglington having, in the handsomest
manner, consented to cancel it.
COSTLY MULLERITE ASYLUM.—At Ashley Down, near
Bristol, alarge asylum is being erected at a cost of £lO,OOO,
for a sect known as Mullerites.—The Builder.
A woman at Broughton Hackett, near Worcester, has
died of a rupture of the stomach, produced by having
eaten a great quantity of cold potatoes and buttermilk.
The Newcastle Journal says " We can testify of our
own knowledge to the fact of several farmers, holding all
their wheat of 1846 ; one a grower of nearly 250 acres."
Mr. Robins announces the sale of a beautiful marine
villa, at Kemp Town, which affords a very tempting
abode. No doubt there will be much competition, as the
residence is appointed in the most perfect style.
The Queen will hold a Privy Council at Osborne to-day,
when it is expected that a day will be fixed on when the
thanksgivings of a grateful people can be offered up for
the late abundant harvest.
It is rumoured that Dr. Wiseman is shortly to become
Archbishop of Westminster! By whose appointment?
Who will create that dignity, or who will name the person
to fill it ? The answer must be—the Pope !
ARRIVAL OF SPECIE.—The specie in gold and silver of
the value of a million of dollars, brought home from South
America by her Majesty's ship Fisgard, was delivered at
the Bank of England on Tuesday morning.
Alexander Dickson, who erected the hustings which fell
it the late election at Peebles, was tried at Jedburgh Cir-
cuit Court last week, for culpable negligence, and ac-
quitted.
The potato crop turns out so exceedingly productive
around Salisbury this season, that one grower has realised
£32 per acre for his crop, although he has sold at mode-
rate prices.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE JEWISH YEAR.—TUeSday
last was the first day of the year 5608 of the Jewish era.
Monday, being the last day of their old year, was kept as
a strict holiday by the Jewish people, who suspended all
business till after sunset.
The late James Alexander, Esq., of Hermitage, mer-
chant in Glasgow, has bequeathed the residue of his large
fortune, amounting to from £50,000 to £60,000, to endow
an hospital for the education, the clothing, and, if neces-
sary, the support of poor children of both sexes in that city.
A girl, only fourteen years of age, living with her pa-
rents at Erne, has eloped with a labourer. The silly girl,
before leaving, broke into her father's cabinet, and took a
considerable sum of money. The pair were captured at
a western seaport, and the man is in custody, some of the
stolen property being found in his possession.
A new martyr-mania is springing up in the shape of
sympathy shown to people refusing to take oaths. The
third case, within a few months, occurred in Leith last
week, and as the party was as usual sentenced to a month's
imprisonment, a meeting has been held to commiserate
his fate. All the offenders have been young men of the
debating society age, and glib in casuistry.
At a meeting of Roman Catholics in London, last week,
resolutions were passed expressive of their'" heavy indig-
nation at the late iniquitous proceedings of the Austrian
despot at Ferrara," and that " Pope Pius IX. deserved
their unbounded respect and admiration as a wise tem-
poral ruler, and as a firm assertor of national, liberty and
independence."
CHELTENHAM.—Mr. Robins gives notice in an adver-
tisement of a very extensive sale of land at Cheltenham.
This town has been so long and so highly favoured, that
there have been few opportunities of obtaining land near
it, and we are not surprised therefore to learn that very
great competition is now taking place as to who shall be-
come the purchasers of the present advantageous sites.
PERILOUS POSITION OF THE MACEDONIA.—It is sin-
gular that the two vessels—the Jamestown and the Mace-
donia—placed so liberally by the American Government
at the service of the Irish people should have fared so
badly. The former, it will be recollected, was lost on her
way to Mexico, and the latter, on the 16th instant, was in
a dangerous pogition off the Isle of Arran, and we have
not heard the result.
The solicitors to the Marquis of Chandos, in a letter to,
the Morning Chronicle, state. that the whole of the Duke
of Buckingham's interest in his real and personal pro-
perty was purchased by the Marauis of Chandos, for con-
siderably more than its value, in May last, and deny that
the change in the ownership of the property was not made
THE FIRST FORGER OF A BANK NOTE.—The day on known until the execution was put into Buckingham
which a forged note was first presented at the Bank of House.
England, forms a memorable era in its history. For The venerable pile, Lanercost Abbey, so greatly ad-
sixty-four years the establishment had circulated its paper mired by antiquarians for its rich architectural beauties,
with freedom ; and during this period no attempt had is now in ruins, in consequence of the falling of the roof,
been made to imitate it. He who takes the initiative in which took place during the gale of wind on Thursday
a new line of wrong doing, has more than the simple act week. On examination it was discovered that the roof
to answer for ; and to Richard William Vaughan, a Staf- had given' way in that part of the abbey in which divine
ford linen-draper, belongs the melancholy celebrity of service was usually performed. The untoward event has
having led the van in this new phase of crime, in the year caused Much regret.
1758. The records of his life do not show want, beggary, SAILORS' AND SOLDIERS' LETTERS.—The Postmaster-
or starvation urging him, but a simple desire to seem General has ordered that the letters of soldiers and seamen,
greater than he was. By one of the artists employed, and both in her Majesty's service and the East India Corn-
there were several engaged on different parts of the notes, pany's, should be forwarded in future at the reduced rate
the discovery was made. The criminal had filled up to of postage, whether they be liable to foreign postage or
the number of twenty, and deposited them in the hands not. The foreign rates of postage, however, must be paid
of a young lady to whom he was attached, as a proof of in all cases, in addition to the reduced rates of British
his wealth. There is no calculating how much longer postage.
Bank notes might have been free from imitation, had this The arts of the Parisian claquers would seem to have
man not shown with what ease they might be counter- been introduced into England ; for the Stamford Mercury
feited.—Francis's History of the Bank of England. mentions that while the play. of -Black-eyed S USW?, was
THE LATE Mu. WALTER OF THE " TIMES."—When being performed at the Victoria Theatre, a sailor was so
George IV. ascended the throne, Mr. Walter had reached touched by the distress of the heroine, that he rushed on
his 44th year • and the most extensive review of personal the stage in order to protect her from her assailants, but
history scarcely presents a single instance of any man in was induced to retire by one of the players, who reminded
whom there existed, as in him, an entire union of the him that the scene was only a fiction.
wisdom and circumspection which accompanies age with A GLUTTONOUS EEL.—A gentleman who was spearing
.the strong passions, vivacity, and the activity cf early eels, at Bolton-le-Sands, on Monday week, in company
youth. No one moved about more than lie did ; but he with a friend, found a large eel lying dead on the surface
was not impelled to the indulgence of locomotive habits of one of the tidal ditches at that place, with the tail and
by any childish impatience of restraint. His activity did hind paws of a rat protruding from its mouth. The eel,
not result from any series of temporary impulses, but from which weighed about two pounds and a half, had evidently
a sense of duty which his position and his previous life had fallen a victim to its own gluttony, in endeavouring to
imposed. Within certain limitations it might be said that swallow the rat whole.
he preferred an interview to a letter. In his intercourse The highest price ever attained by Bank Stock was in
with total, or even comparative strangers he—being a can- the year 1818, when it touched 292, and the lowest
tious man of the world—liked to communicate through was in 1762, when it was done at 91. The highest amount
third parties—through the agency of the half-dozen pro- of circulation was in 1818, when the total was £27,771,000,
fessional gentlemen who were respectively at the heads of and the lowest in 1785, when it was £5,923,000. With
the several departments which he himself governed in regard to the stock of bullion, time maximum amount ap-
chief. But with those whom he admitted to his acquain- pears in 1844, when it was £15,784,000, and the minimum
tance lie generally conversed rather than corresponded ; in 1797, when it, was £1,086,000.
he therefore largely patronised every mode of conveyance DEATH IN A BATH. —On Thursday, a man named
that served to bring him into contact with those whom lie Brian, 70 years old, had a private warm bath at Stepney.
desired to see, or to escape from the bores who desired to Soon afterwards ona of the men employed at the baths
see him. Men incapable of understanding his character found him lying at the bottom of the bath quite dead.
would exclaim—" Strange man that he is—no sooner set- Mr. Cheshire, a sugeon, was called in, who said the de-
tled steadily in his business in the city than he is off to the ceased had died from an affection of the heart. lie con-
west end, no one knows about what ; then back in the sidered his death had been accelerated by the warmth of
middle of the night for an hour or two, and the next morn- the bath, which had caused an increased action of the
ing at sunrise away to Bearwood." At one moment heart.
tempted from home by the stirring calls of business, the A grand cricket match, between eleven of All England
next invited to return by the recollection of past happiness and twenty of the Northumberland Club and neighbour-
and the hope of future enjoyment. An almost consuming hood, commenced at the ground of the latter, near New-
zeal for the prosperity of the Times newspaper alternating castle-upon-Tyne, on Monday last. The All England
with his passion for planting and pruning, creating artifi- scored 92 in the first innings, and 167 in the second. , The
cial lakes and undulating lawns. At night, seated in the Northumberland scored 134 in the first innings, and had
editorial chair, directing the pens that made the popular scored 14 in the second innings, with nine wickets do go
voice of England heard in every court of the continent, down, when darkness on Wednesday evening put a , stop
spending his strength in the foul atmosphere of the city, to what thus became a drawn game.
and the exhausting labours of a newspaper office ;in a few SCOTCH DISTRESS.—The Lords of the Treasury have
hours afterwards, however, the carol of the lark and " in- declined appointing a commission to inquire into the
tense-breathhig morn" restored his jaded faculties, and state of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In his
the same hand now wielded a woodman's axe which a official letter, Mr. Trevelyan says, " That their lordships
short time previously had been guiding the greatest poli- • are of opinion that the state of the Highlands and Islan
of ds
tical engine Europe.—The Times. of Scotland is so well known, that the appointment a
REAL PATRIOTISM.—We are only beginning to gather commission of inquiry would not be productive of any
up the true features of this virtue. The time was when advantage which would counterbalance the objections to
we fancied it to be a bluster about war. There came ano- that course of proCeeding." -
ther dine, in which it seemed to be a struggle against MIXED MARRIAGES.—It is reported that the Pope has
narrow laws. At present, it is public spiritedness,—a given express orders to his ecclesiastics to celebrate no
term which hides beneath its vagueness a world of lies ! marriages between Catholics and Protestants with Out a
Had we looked deeply into the lives of those great men, written promise that the children, the issue of the mar-
who lave done true service for their country. we might singe, shall, without exception, be brought up in the
have erred less and learned more. We should have Catholic faith. This is natural enough on the part of
learned, for one thing, that the beginnings of all patri- Pius IN. ;it is the unions thus formed which are un-
otism are in the heart and home, and that the public natural, and which may be expected to result in misery,
spiritedness which is not rooted there is spurious and rot- strife, proselytism, or indifference to all religion.
ten to the core. For in the inner life of our greatest men, The Cricket, the steamer in which the late melancholy
there was ever first a struggle for truth and freedom to explosion took place, was an iron steamer which has been
tlieir own souls, before they ventured into public service. plying on the Thames at halfpenny fares. She was con-
These men understood, that the sacrament of admission tracted for—boat, machinery and all, at £2,sso,—the sti-
into the church of the patriots is the baptism of the spirit pulation being, that she should be equal in speed to any
in self-denial. And, therefore, you always find that they , of the " above bridge" boat, and consume withal no more
were great in the inner courts of their being, having sub- than a given quantity of fuel per diem. The performance
dued their own wills to God, and established His law in 1 of the contract is said to have satisfied the proprietors,
their homes.—We have much talk about social freedom 1, though the opinion of the Government inspectort ctiowe
nt
in our day ; and we are not without earnest, well-directed seriously against both Materiais and the e oil s

Judge if he failed in his appointment; judge if he was
not surprised beyond all measure of astonishment, when
the minister politely asked him whether he would accept
so trifling a post as that of Commissaire-general of Police
of the Isle of Elba, with we know not bow many francs
per annum, with half-a-year's salary' in advance, and all
travelling expenses paid. The little condition was added
that he must quit Paris directly, for the post had been too
long vacant, and there were reasons which demanded his
immediate presence at Elba. How he contrived to ac-
cept with any gravity, without a broad grin upon his face,
can never be known. He would certainly have bounded

to the ceiling ' • but by good fortune. or happy instinct,
he had convulsively grasped his chair with both hands,
and so anchored himself to the ground.
Off he started the very next day, happier than Sancho
Panza, to the government of his island ; for his post vir-
tually constituted him the governor of Elba. Nor was
the stream of his good fortune half exhausted. For im-
mediately on his arrival he was appealed to fora decision,
between two rich and rival capitalists, both desirous of
undertaking to work certain mines lately discovered in the
island. One offered him a large share in the future
profits ; the other a large sum of ready money. Our go-
vernor decided for the ready money.
When a gallant man renders a service, he does not run
and proclaim it immediately. Fouche allowed a few days
to transpire before he waited on Pauline. He then
alluded to the appointment he had made ; he hoped she
was content with the manner in which he had provided
for her client, Dubois.
" Dubois ! Dubois !" said the lady, " I know of no
Dubois."
The whole affair had entirely escaped her memory.
Fondle assisted in recalling it.
" Oh, true !" she said, " the brother of my chamber-
maid ; well, did you give him any little employment ?
What did you make of him ?"
Fouche saw his error, bit his lips, and let the subject
pass.
That very evening a messenger was despatched to recall
Dubois—and home he came ; but " with money in both
pockets”—a little capital of solid francs. Poet as he was,
the man had sense ; he did not spend, but invested it, and
the revenue enabled him to assume the life and bearing of
a gentleman. We leave him prospering and to prosper.
It is said, that Fouche did all he could to keep this
story secret. But Pauline discovered the truth, and was
malicious enough to disclose it to Napoleon, who more
than once jested his minister on his Governor of Elba.