The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-09 00:00:00

SELECTIONS.

BRITISH HATRED OF AMERICAN INSTI-
TUTIONS.
(From Martin Chuzzlewit.)
_ __ _...

The Honourable Elijah Pogram glanced at his friends
as though he would have said, " Observe this! See what
follows!" and they rendered tribute to the Pogram ge-
nius, by a gentle murmur.

" Our fellow-countryman is a model of a man, quite
fresh from Natur's mould !" said Pogram, with enthu-
siasm. He is a true-born child of this free hemisphere !
Verdant as is the mountains of our country ' • bright and
flowing as are our mineral Licks ; unspiled by withering
conventionalities as air our broad and boundless Perearers!
Rough he may be. So air our Barra. Wild he may be.
So air our Buffalers. But he is a child of Natur', and a
child of Freedom ; and his boastful answer to the Despot
and the Tyrant is, that his bright home is in the Settin
Sun."

Mr. Pogram waited nntil his hearers were calm again
before he said to Mark :

" You do not seem to coincide, Sir ?"
" Why," said Mark, " I did n't like him much, end
that's the truth, Sir. I thought he was a bully ; and I
did n't admire his carryin' them murderous little per-
suaders, and being so ready to use 'em."
" It's singh-r !' said Pogram, lifting his umbrella high
enough to look all round from under it. " It 's strange !
You observe the settled opposition to our institutions
which pervades the British mind !"
" 'Wuat an extraordinary people you are!" cried Mar-

tin. " Are Mr. Chollop and the class he represents, an
Institution here ? Are pistols with revolving barrels
swore-sticks, bowie knives, and such things, Institutions
on which you pride yourselves ? Are bloody duels, brutal
combats, savage assaults, shootings down and stabbing in
the streets, you! Institutions! Whv I shall hear next,
that Dishonour and Fraud are among the Institutions of
the great republic !"

Tile moment these words passed his lips, the Honoura.
ble Elijah Pogram looked round again.
" This morbid hatred of our Institutions," he observed,
"is quite a study for a physchological observer. " He's
alludin to Repudiation now !"
" Oh ! you may make anything an Institution if you
like," said Martin, laughing, " and I confess you had me
there, for you certainly have made that, one. But the
greater part of these things are one Institution with us,
and we call it by the generic name of Old Bailey ?"
" What do you think of my countrymen who are pre-
sent, Sir ?" inquired Elijah Pogram.
" Oh! very pleasant," said Martin.
They were a very pleasant p lrty. No man had spoken
a word ; every one had been intent, as usual, on his own
private gorging ; and the greater part of the company were
decidedly dirty feeders.
The Honourable Elijah Pogram looked at Martin as if
he thought, " You don't mean that, I know!" And he
was soon confirmed in this opinion.
Sitting opposite to them was a gentleman in a high state
of tobacco, who wore quite a little beard, composed of the
overflowings of that weed, as they had dried about his
mouth and chin : so common an ornament that it scarcely
attracted Martin's observation : but this good citizen,
burning to assert his equality against all comers, sucked
his knife for some moments, and made a cut with it at the
butter, just as Martin was in the act of taking some.
There was a juicyness about the deed that would have
sickened a scavenger.

When Elijah POgram (to whom this was an every-day
incident) saw that Martin put the plate away, and took no
butter, he was quite delighted, and said :
" Well! The morbid hatred of you British to the In-
stitutions of our country, is as-ToNishing !"
" Upon my life !" cried Martin in his turn, " this is
the most wonderful community that ever existed. A man
deliberately makes a hog of himself, and that's an Insti-
tution !"

THE REGULAR AND IRREGULAR DRAMA.
(From Hood's Magazine.)
A writer in the Times lately attributed the decline of the
public taste for theatrical exhibitions to the superiority of
the dramatic scenes, serious and comic, which are so ad-
mirably got up and performed daily in the bankruptcy
courts, the Old Bailey, Guildhall, Westminster Hall, the
police-offices, the courts ot conscience, and other houses,
major and minor, in London and the provinces. And
there is certainly some truth in the theory ; for the
snatches of tragedy, comedy, and farce, furnished by such
places, are much more interesting and amusing, and in-
'finitely more instructive than the pieces fabricated by
most of our modern play-wrights. Some of the judges
and counsel show quite as " fiery off" as any stars on the
boards, and the jwrors, common or special, are quite as
clever and entertaining as the walking gentlemen. The
want of music and dancing in the places alluded to,
makes them less strong in opera and the ballet, and her
Majesty's Theatre, in the Haymarket, prospers accord.
ingly, from the absen eof competition. The police-
offices, however, are powerful rivals to the Adelphi,
Surrey, &c., in pieces of strong and sometimes very
domestic interest, the plots of which are duly recorded in
some of the daily prints ; and melo-drama flourishes at the
sessions-house and in the inquest-ro,,m. Here and there
a coroner is also a very respectable performer in the
funny line; and constables, beadles, and bumpkin wit-
nesses are low comedians.
How far it might be practicable to retrieve the fortunes
of the patent theatres, by allowing a certain portion of the
public business to be transacted on the stage, is left for
the proprietors to discuss with the lord chamberlain • no-
thing else, probably, will ever raise the shares of either to
a profitable premium—for, who would pay to sit at their
fictitious shows, when he might, gratis, see such exhibitions
of real life elsewhere, and listen to the genuine dialogue
of human nature ? Here is a brief example
MISAPP REPIENSTON.—A DRAMATIC SKETCH..
SCENF.—A Club Room at the Hare and Hounds. At
the table sits the County Coroner with his Clerk. The
Jurors are arranged round the board. The Constable,
&c., fill the background. TIMOTHY GUBDINS, a
witness, is under examination.
Cor.—Did you know the defunct ?
Wit.—Who's he?'
Cor.—Why, the dead man.
Wit.—Yes.
('or.—lntimately
Wit.—Were.
Car.—How often have you been lir company with him;
Wit.—Ony once.
Cor.—And do you call that intimately ?
Wit----Yes—for he were wery drunk, and I were wery
drunk—and that made us like two brothers.
Cor.—Who recognised the body ?
Wit.--Jack Adams.
Cor.—How did lie recognise him?
Wit.—By standing on his head to let the-water run out.
Cor.-1 mean how (I'd be know him?
Wit.—By his plush jacket.
Cor.—Anything else ?
Wit.—No : only his face were so swelled', his own mo-
ther wouldn't have knowed
Cor.—Then how did von know him ?
Wit.—'Cause I warn't his mother.
[Applause in court.
Cor.—What do you consider the cause of his death?
-wit.—prowntung in eours,,.
Con—Was any attempt made to resuscitate-him ?
Wit.—Yes.
Cor.—How ?
Wit.—We sarched his pockets.
Cor.—l mean did you try to bring him to ?
Wit.—Yes- to the public-house.
Cor.—l mean to recover him.
Wit.—No. \%e warn't told to.
Did yon ever suspect the deceased of mental alienation ?
Wit.—Yes—the whole village suspected un.
?
Wit.—That he alienated one of the Squire's pigs.
Cor.—You misunderstand me. I alluded to mental
aberration.
Wit.—Some thinks he was.
Cor.—On what groond,?

Wit.—l believe they beknged to-Squire Waters.
Cor.—Pshaw. I mean was he mad ?
Wit.—Sartenlv.
Cor.—what, devoid of reason ?

Wit.—He had no reason to drownd himself as- know
of.
Cor.—That will do, sir. (To the Jury.) Gentlemen,
you have heard the evidence, and will consider of your
verdict.
Foreman.—Your worship, we are all of one mind.
Cor.—Well, what is it ?
Foreman.—We don't mind what. We're agreeeble to
anything your Worship pleases.
Cor.—No, gentlemen—l have no right to dictate—you
had better consult together.
Foreman.—We have, your Worship, afore we came, and
were all unanimous. ,
Cor.—l am happy to hear it, gentlemen. (To the
Clerk.) Mr. Dicks, take down the verdict. Now then,
gentlemen.
Foreman.—Why, then, your. Worship, it's " Justifiable
Suicide ;"—but begs to recommend to mercy ;—and hopes
we shall be allowed our expenses.

HEADACIIK.—Food taken into the stomach of a person
of weak digestion immediately before retiring to rest,
lodges there during the greater part of the night very little
altered ; thus acting as an irri-ant for so many hours on
an onan already too sen-itive, can we wonder that the pa-
tient should awake in the morning with a headache? But
it frequently happens that the change the food has under-
gone during sleep, is not merely imperfect i❑ kind, but
unwholesome likewise in its nature, and the crudity gene-
rated ny the morbid process usually abounds with acidity.
—Dr. flume Wreatherhead on Diet.

UNLUCKY DAYS.—Thou beginnest in the morning, for
instance, by putting thy shirt on wrong side out, and this
gives a kind of direction to the events of the day. Thou
cuttest thyself when thou art shaving, thou guest out to
seek people whom thou dust not find, arid thou art found
by people whom thou dust not seek, arid whom thou couldst
wish at Jericho ; thou sayest what is dull when thou wish-
est to be witty ; thy dinner is bad_; e-ery thing goes in-
conceivably wrong; and if thou takest it into thy head to
make an offer to a lady, such a day thou mayst be certlin
of getting a refusel, for thou art on the wrong side of thy
luck. What the President had turned wrong side out is
his toilet, on a certain Thursday, in a certain week, in a
certain month, I will not take upon me to guess ; but
certain it was that an ungentle fate followed him all through
the day, and every member of the family was made more
or less conscious of it.—From Mary Howitt's new work,
" The President's Daughter."
DR. MAGINN'S CONVERSATIONAL POWERS.—I sat,
on last Friday, two hours with Dr. Maginn in his bed-
room. The doctor has been raking, I believe, since his
family went to France ; he was quite ill when I saw him.
However, he managed to write a leader for the Argus
newspaper in his shirt, and that completed, he jumped
into bed, and we had a long talk. The more 1 see of
him, the more I admire his talent. He is really a splen-
did fellow. He knows everything. He will teach you
as much in one hour as the best book will in ten. His
conversation is the most extraordinary thing possible.
He jumbles together fun, philosophy, and polemics; and
in these (so incongruous) he is pre-eminent. At first
you would say, that he spent all his life reading jest-
books ; but then there is such admirable philosophy and,
common sense in his reflections, that you get rid of your
first notion as quickly as possible. But just as you are
on the point of averring that this man reads nothing but
works of thought and reasoning, yoi are forced to gulp
down the exclamation, for he jumps into theology, and
will argue on it like a bishop. Then you declare that he
has studied nothing but polemics all his life. Such a man
is Maginn. He is a ruin, but a glorious ruin neverthe-
less. He takes no care of himself. Could he be induced
to do so, he would be the first man of the day in litera-
ture, or anything else. But he lives a rollicking life; and
will write you one of his ablest articles while standing in
his shirt, or sipping brandy, so naturally do the best and
wittiest thoughts flow from his pen. His reading is ins_
rnense ; his memory powerful; and his knowledge of the
world is perhaps equal to that of any man that ever !med.
In fact, I say he knows everythite . and so he does. We
talked about a war with France, about which all the John
and Jenny Bulls are getting ai,xions. The doctor assert-
ed stoutly that there would be none, arid quoted Lord
Brougham, who said, in allp-ion to the national d. bi,
that En: l unt was br,r.nd in eiat hut.dted millions to keep
the peace,—Dublin 41,agaz ne.

FRUITERERS' SHOPS AT CHRISTMAS. -- Fruiterers
were radient in their glory. There were great, round, pot-
bellied baskets of chestmrs, shaped like the waistcoats of
jolly old gentlemen, lolling at the doors, and tumbling
out into the street in their apoplectic opulence. There
were ruddy, brown-faced, broad-girthed Spauish onions,
shining in the fatness of their growth like Spanish Friars ;
and winking from their shelves in wanton slyness at the
girls as they went by, and glanced demurely at the hung
up Miseltoe. There were pears and apples clustered high
in blooming pyramids ; there were bunches of grapes
made, in the shopkeepers benevolence, to dangle from
conspicuous hooks. that people's mouths might water
gratis as they passed ; there were piles of filberts, mossy
and brown, recalling, in their fragance, ancient walks
among the woods, and pleasant shuffiings ankle deep
through withered leaves ; there were Norfolk biffins, squab
and swarthy, setting off the yellow of the oranges and
lemons, and, in the great compactness of their juicy
persons, urgently entreating and beseeching to be carried
home in paper bags and eaten after dinner.—Dickens's
Christmas Carol.
THE NATIVITY.—Perhaps there is not one spot on the
face of the globe that is more deeply interesting to Chris-
tians than the village of Bethlehem. It extends east and
west, standing on a hill six miles from the city of Jeru-
salem, and in which the most remarkable events had oc-
curred, according to those minute descriptions given in
the Record of Inspiration; but, above all, none more
striking than it being the place giving birth to the infant
Jesus, who was the Prophet of the Highest, and came
forth to give light to those who sit in darkness. There is
one large monastery of Franciscan monks, on a command-
ing height, looking down on a charming valley, which
calls to mind that ever memorable moment when shepherds
who were there watching their flocks, heard the heavenly
choir, and saw the star with unbounded joy, which had
led the Magi, or wise men of the East, to the place of the
nativity. In the magnificent church within this monas-
tery is a chapel under ground, finely ornamented, where
fifty massive lamps of silver are suspended, and kept con-
stantly burning. Here is pointed out, in the form of a
star in marble, the place, where he came forth, who was
declared to be Wonderful, the Mighty Counseller, the
Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.—Rae Wilson,
on Judea.

THE IRISH STATE PROSECUTION OF O'CONNELL.—
Whatever be the result of that prosecution, whether those
indicted be found gudty or acquitted of the misdemeanours
laid to their charge, we feel assured, on the one hand,
however long and grievous may have been the " provoca-
tion," that while there will be " nothing extenuate," nei-
ther will there be " set down aught in malice ;" but that
the measure of the retribution now demanded by the state,
will be so temperately and equitably adjusted, that while
the very semblance of oppression is carefully avoided, the
majesty of the law, and the powers of the executive, will
be amply and entirely vindicated. On the other hand,
if Mr. O'Connell and his companions, in guilt or misfor-
tune, should break through the cobwebs of the law, and
hurl a retrospective defiance at the government, we feel
the utmost confidence, that the learning, foresight, and
ability, of the eminent lawyers who represent the crown,
together with the firmness and integrity of the Irish bench,
"sans peur et sane reproche," will demonstrate to the
millions who look on, that the constitutional powers of the
state still remain uninjured and unimpaired in all their
pristine and legitimate energy and vigour ; and that neither
in the machinery now set in motion, nor with those who
conduct or superintend its action, but with others on
whom, in course of these proceedings, will be thrown the
execution of a grave and all-important duty, must rest the
real blame, if blame there be, of the failure of this " State
Prosecution."—" State Prosecutions," in Blackwood's
Magazine.

AN OLD-FASHIONED ENGLISH TAVERN.—Being set
ashore, with very little money in their pockets, and no de-
finite plan of operation in their heads, they sought out a
cheap tavern, where they regaled upon a smoking steak,
and certain flowing mugs of beer, as only men just landed
from the sea can revel in the generous dainties of the
earth. When they had feasted, as two grateful-tempered
giants might have done, they stirred the fire, drew back
the glowing curtain from the window, and making each a
sofa for himself, by union of the great unwieldy chairs,
gazed blissfully into the street. Even the street was made
a fairy street, by being half hidden in an atmosphere of
steak, and strong, stout, stand-up English beer. For on
the window-glass hang such a mist, that Mr. Tapley was
obliged to rise and wipe it with his handkerchief, before
the passengers appeared like common mortals. And even
then, a spiral little cloud went curling up from their two
glasses of hot grog, which nearly hid them from each
other. It was one of those unaccountable little rooms
which are never seen anywhere but in a tavern, and are
supposed to have got into taverns by reason of the facili-
ties afforded to the architect for getting drunk while en-
gaged in their construction It had more corners in it
than the brain of an obstinate man ; was full of mad clo-
sets, into- which nothing could be put that was not spe-
cially invented and made for that purpose; had myste-
rious shelvings and bulk-heads,, and indications of stair-
cases in the ceiling ; and was elaborately provided with a
bell that rung in the room itself, about two feet from the
handle, and had no connection whatever with any other
part of the establishment. It was a little below the pave-
ment, and abutted close upon it ; so that passengers
grated against the window-panes with their buttons, and
scraped it with their baskets ; and fearful boys suddenly
coming between a guest and the light, derided him, or
put out their tongues as if he were a physician ; or made
white knobs on the end of their noses by flattening the
same against the glass, and vanished awfully like spectres.
Marlin Chuzziewil.

THEM EASURES OF GOVERNITENT.—Under the joint
operation of the three great measures of the government
—the income-tam,-the new tariff,. and the new' corn-law,
onr domestic affairs exhibit, at this moment, such an as-
pect' of steadily returning prosperity, as not the-most san-
guine person living could have imagined possible two years
ago. For the first time after a miserable interval, we be-
hold'our revenue exceeding our expenditure ; while every
one feels satisfied of the fact, that our finances are now
placed upon a sound and solid basis,. and daily improving.
Provisions are of unexampled cheapness, and the means
of obtaining them are—thank Almighty God !—gradually
increasing among the poorer classes. Trade and commerce
are now, and have for the last six months been:steadily
improving ; and we perceive that a new era of prosperity
is
unibetegdingnowingrnt dawn
mo e
nt,n evidently upon
auss .
firmly%Ve
havefixed ai
as ttrhoen g and
confi-
dence of the Queen as in that of the country, and sup-
ported by a powerful rnajority in the House of Commons
—an annihilating one in the House of Lords. The reign
of order and tranquillity has been restored in Wales, and
let us also add, in Ireland, after an unexampled display of
mingled determination and forbearance on the part of the
government. Chartism is defunct, notwithstanding the
efforts made by its dishonoured and discomfited leaders to
revive it. When, in short, has Great Britain enjoyed a
state of more complete internal c:lm and repose than that
which at present exists, notwithstanding the systematic
attempts made to, diffuse alarm and agitation ? Do the
public funds exhibit the slightest symptoms of uneasiness
oof
arc ettxi
lieraii
ntypiegnirmmerdetaeoli:nsavaettnemtr?dsi
e:ctesaOcvli
emennnrthe
government,contrary,
there
hasev e r
been since
scarceth e accessionan y
va-
riation
letywh
respectively
eioesnnap.
nert
cdththeifv,
oodeflsy
England,t
euavrteb
nat
hnecie
quitting
height.r i
andn t
11
Ee Nnmvg aal
Her
Wales,
ad
—Madhajeerisntministers enjoy their usual intervals of relaxation
and absence from town—all the movements of government
go on like clockwork—no symptoms visible any where of
feverish uneasiness. But what say you, inquires a timid
friend, or a bitter opponent, to the repeal agitation in Ire-
land, and the anti-corn-law agitation in England? Why,
we say this—that we sincerely regret the mischief which
the one has done, and is doing, in Ireland, and the other
in England, among their ignorant and unthinking dupes ;
but with no degree of alarm for the stability of the go-
vernment. or the maintenance of public tranquillity and
order. Ministers are perfectly competent to deal with
both the one and the other of these two conspiracies, as
the chief actors in the one have found already, and those
in the other will find, perhaps, by and by ;, if, indeed, they
should ever become important or successful enough to
challenge the notice and interference of the government.
—" Position and Prospects of the Government," in
Blackw3od's Magazine.
THE. HYPOCRISY OF THE LEAGUE TOWARDS. TAE
FARALERS.—" We can never carry the measure ourselves
we must have the agricultural labourers with us ! !"
They therefore proceeded to commence operations upon
the agricultural constituencies. They knew they could
always reckon upon a share of support wherever they
went—it being hard to find any country without its cluster
of bitter and reckless opponents of a conservative govern-
ment, who would willingly aid in any demonstration
against it. With such aid, and indefatigable efforts to
collect a crowd of noisy non-electors: with a judicious
choice of localities, and profuse bribery of the local radical
newspapers, in order to procure copious accounts of thei.
proceedings—they commenced their " grand series of
country triumphs !" Their own organs, from time to
time, gave out that in each and every county visited by
the League, the farmers attended their meetings, and
joined in a vote condemnatory of the .porn-laws, and
pledged themselves to vote thereafter for none but the
candidates of the Anti-corn-law League The following
are specimens of the flattering appellations which had tilt
now teen bestowed, upon their new friends, upon these
selfsame farmers :—" Bull-frogs !" " thaw-bacons !"
" clodpoles 1" " hair-bucks!" " deluded slaves!" " brute
drudges !" Now, however, they and their labourers were
addressed in terms of respectful sympathy and flattery, as
the victims of the rapacity of the landlords—on whom
were poured the full phials of anti-corn-law wrath. The
following are some of the scalding drops let fall upon their
devoted heads :—" Monster of impiety !" " inhuman
fiend !" heartless brutes !" " rapacious harpies !" " re-
lentless demons!" "plunderers of the people !" "mer-
ciless footpads !" " murderers!" " swindlers !" " insa-
tiable !" " insolent !" "flesh-mongering !" " scoundrel l"
" law-making landlords !" " a bread-taxing oligarchy !"
Need we say that the authors of these very choice and
elegant expressions were treated with utter contempt by
both landlords and tenants—always making the few allow-
ances above referred to ? Was it very likely that the
landlord or the farmer should quit their honourable and
important avocations at the bidding of such creatures as
had thus intruded themselves into their counties ? should
consent to be yoked to the car, or to follow in the train of
these enlightened, disinterested, and philanthropic cotton-
spinners and calico-printers ? Absurd ! It became, in
tact,
daily more obvious to even the most unreflecting,
that these worthies were not likely to be engaged in their
" labours of love ;" were not exactly the kind of persons
to desert their own businesses, to attend out of pure be-
nevolence that of others—to let succumb their own in-
terests to promote those of others ; to subscribe out of
the gains which they had wrung from their unhapoYufac-
tory slaves their £lO. £2O, £3O t. , £5O, not " merePof the
spirit and philanthropy.—" Positionand Prospects
0017;
gmoer:dt i
tobneßelhaicldk
tue,onl or, o'smAVeltaina,a,zsii
on
ue.
nn
than at Christmas, when its Mighty
himself.—Dickens. Founder e rn ewvaesr ce lto le

ORIGIN OF FRASER'S MAGAZINE.—In 1830, Fraser's
Magazine was established •, and with the foundation and
chief management of that brilliant periodical, Maginn was
most intimately connected. Some disagreement with
Blackwood, we believe, led to the birth of this new and
powerful rival, which soon attained a circulation the most
extensive and respectable of any of the London-published
periodicals. The first three or four numbers were almost
entirely written by the doctor and his friend Mr. Hugh
Fraser, one of those clever, well-bred men of wit and
honour about town, whom London produces in greater
perfection and greater numbers than any other metropolis
in the world. The articles being completed, they both
sallied forth with the manuscript in their pockets, and
prcceeded down Regent-street, in search of a publisher.
Passing No. 115, the doctor said, " Fraser ! here is a
namesake of yours—let us try him." They entered the
shop—some bright star of fortune that presided over Mr.
James Fraser, then conducting them. The terms were
arranged, and thus was laid the basis of Fraser's Maga-
zine. Many persons thought it was so called after the
publisher. This was a mistake. Mr. James Fraser, so
far from taking pride in the journal which bore his name,
never permitted any one in his establishment to call it
Fraser's Magazine. In his books and correspondence,
which we have seen, we find it always called " The Town
and Country," and it was after Mr. Hugh Fraser the
magazine Magazine.wasdesignated by the title by which it is known.
—Dublin

THE QUEEN'S RESPECT FOR THE SUNDAY.—Although
not connected with this portion of her majesty's life,
there is another incident which proves the high moral and
religious influences exercised over the mind and heart of
the Princess Victoria during her earlier years, and which
now lead her to conduct herself in every way worthy of
her rank and elevation. The fact I am about to record
demonstrates the devout respect she was always taught to
feel for the sacredness of the Christian Sabbath. Indeed,
her religious education was invariably made a matter of
the deepest and primary importance, and the lessons
given at the period of her life we are now considering,
have brought forth the most satisfactory results in after
days. The incident to which 1 refer is the following ;—A
certain noble lord arrived at Windsor one Saturday night
at a late hour. On being introduced to the Queen, he
said, " I have brought down for your majesty's inspec-
tion some documents of great importance, but as 1 shall
be obliged to trouble you to examine them in detail, I will
not eneroach.on the time of your majesty to-night, but
will request your attention to-morrow morning." " To-
morrow morning!" repeated the Queen, " to-morrow is
Sunday, my lord." " True, your majesty, but business
of the state will not admit of delay." " I am aware of
that," replied the Queen ; and as, of course, your lord-
ship could not have arrived earlier at the palace to-night,
I will, if those papers are of such pressing importance, at-
tend to their contents after church to-morrow morning."
So to church went the Queen and the court, and to church
went the noble lord, when, much tc his surprise, the sub-
ject of the discourse was on the duties of the Christian
Sabbath. " How did your lordship like the sermon?"
asked the Queen. "Very much, indeed, your majesty,"
replied the nobleman. Well, then," retorted her aia-
jesty, " 1 will not conceal from you that, last night, I sent
the clergyman the text from which he preached. I hope
we shall all be improved by the sermon." The Sunday
passed without a single word being said relative to the pa
pers; and, at night, when her majesty was about to with-
draw, "To-morrow morning, my lord, at any hour you
please," said the Queen, turning to the nobleman,—" as
early as seven, my lord, if you like, we will look into the
papers. The nobleman said, " That he could not think of
intruding on her majesty at so early an hour ' - he thought
nine o'clock would be quite soon enough. "No—no, my
lord," replied the Queen, " as the papers are of import-
ance, I wish them to be attended to very early. However,
it you wish it to be nine, be it so;" and, accordingly, the
nex; morning at nine, her majesty was seated, ready to
receive the nobleman and his papers.—Fraser's 'Magazine.
INORDINATE EXPECTATIONS PROM THE PRESENT
MINISTRY.—Can the Conservatives be expected in TWO
years' time to repair all the evils resulting from a TEN
years' gross mismanagement of the national affairs by
their predecessors ? " The evil that they did, lives after
them. But for the fortunate strength of the Conserve-
r tive party, moreover, in opposition, and the patriotism and
wisdom of the House of Lords, the late ministers would,
by the time of their expulsion from office, have rendered
the condition of the country utterly desperate—for very
nearly desperate it assuredly was. Their vacillating, in-
consistent, wild, and extravagant conduct during these ten
years, had generated an universal sense of insecurity and
want of confidence among all the great interests of the
country, which locked up capital—palsied enterprise.
,Trade and commerce drooped daily, and the revenue
melted away rapidly every year. Great things were justly
expected from the practical skill and experience possessed
by the new government ; but time is requisite for the de-
, velopment et a policy which had, and, still has, to contend
against such numerous and formidable obstacles. Confi-
dence, especially mercantile confidence, is a delicate
flower,. of slow growth, and very difficult to rear. A
breath may blight it. It will bloom only in a tranquil and
temperate air. If ever there was a man entitled to speak,
however, with authority upon this subject, it was Mr. Ba-
ring, the late candidate, and unquestionably the future
member, for the city of London—a man coustan ly en-
gaged in vast mercantile transactions in all parts of the
globe, and whose ability equals his experience. In the
presence of a great number of gentlemen, representing
two-thirds of the wealth and intelligence of the city of
London,. thte spoke Mr. Baring, on the 6th October,
l843::—" I rejoice that Sir Robert Peel did not hold out
to the country the fallacious hope, that, by any particular
measure, he could restore prosperity, or cute sufferings
which were beyond the reach of legislation,. and that he
patiently relied upon the resources and energies of the
country to set trade and commerce right. That expecta-
tion is already beginning to be realized. That calm re-
liance is already justiied. lam speaking in the presence
of those who are as much as, if not more conversant with
business than myselfeand they will contradict me if I am
not rigiit when I say, that great symptoms of improvement
in the trade and industry of the country have manifested
themselves ; which symptoms are of such a nature, that
they do not appear to be the result of momentary excite-
ment produced by some fallacious experimentebut of the
paramount re-establishment of commerce, and of a fresh
era in the prosperity of the empire. I am asked what
have the government done ? Why,' they have restored
CONFIDENCE to the country ! They have terminated
wars, they have restored confidence at home. and com-
manded respect abroad."—" Position and Prospects of
the Gouernment," in Blackwood's Magazine.
A BALL ON CrirtismaAs EVE.—Old Fezziwig laid
down his pen, and looked up at the clock, which pointed
at the hour of seven. He rubbed his hands, adjusted his
capacious waistcoat; laughed all over himself, from his
shoes to his organ of benevolence; and called out in a
be lifem forps eve:
were rn
trimmed,, ;
m
floor
fiddler comfortable, oily, rich,. fat, jovial voice—" Yo ho, toy
e a
boys!" said Fezziwig. "No more work to-night
Christmas eve, Dick. Christmas, Ebenezer ! Let 's
have the shutters up," cried old Fezziwig, with a sharp
clap of his hands, " before a man can say Jack Robin-
son." You wouldn't believe how these two fellows went
at it They charged into the street with he shutters—
one, two, three—had 'ern up in their places—four, five,
six—barred 'eni and pinned 'ern—seven, eight, nine—and
came back before you could have got to twelve, panting
like race-horses. " " cried old FeAbiwig,
skipping down from the high desk, with wonderful agility.
" Clear away, my lads,, and let 's have lots of room here!
Elilli-ho, Dick ! Chirrup, Ebenezer ! Clear away !
There is nothing they wouldn't have cleared away, or
couldn't have cleared away. with old Fezziwig looking on.
It was done in a minute. Every moveable was pecked off
flasitt.
wasthe
it were
sweptere
and
dismissed frompublict
watered,fuel was heaped upon the fire ; and the warehouse was as
snug, and warm, and dry, and bright a ball-room as you
would
withdesireamusic-book, rnu
si-b
toseceuopok,and upon a
wentwinters o
p to
n iget..
the In r e
lofty desk,
and made an orchestra of it, and tuned like fiery stomach-
aches. In came Mrs. Fezziwig, one vast substantial
smile. In came the three Miss Fezziwigs, beaming and I
loveable. In came the six young followers whose hearts
they broke. In came all the young men and women em-
ployed in the business. In came the housemaid, with her
cousin, the baker. In came the cook, with her brother's
particular friend, the milkman. In came the boy from
over the way, who was suspected of not having board
enough from his master; trying to hide himself behind
the girl from next door but one, who was proved to have-
, bad her ears pulled by her mistress. In they all came,
one after another; some sly, some boldly, some grace-
fully, some awkwardly, some pushing, some pulling; in
they all came, anyhow and everyhow. Away they all
went, twenty couple at once, hands half round and back
again the other way ; down the middle and up again ;
round and round in various stages of affectionate group-
ing ; old top couple always turning up in the wrong place ;
new top couple starting off again as soon as they got
there; all top couples at last, and not a bottom one to
help them. When this result was brought about, old
Fezziwig, clapping his hands to stop the dance, cried out,
" Well done !" and the fiddler plunged his hot face into
a pot of porter, especially provided for that purpose. But
scorning rest upon his re-appearance, be instantly began
again, though there were no dancers yet, as if the other
fiddler had been carried home exhausted, on a shutter, ,
and he were a bran-ne,v man resolved to beat him out of
sight, or perish. There were more dances, and there
were forfeits, and more dances, and there was cake, and
there was negus, and there was a great piece of cold roast,
and there was a great piece of cold boiled, and there were
mince-pies, and plenty of beer. But the great effect of ,
the evening came after the roast and boiled, when the
fiddler (an artful dog, mind! The sort of man who knew
his business better than yon or I could have told it him !)
struck up " Sir Roger de Coverley." Then old Fezziwig
stood out to dance with Mrs. Fezziwig. Top couple, too;
with a good stiff piece of work cut out for them ; threet otor
four and twenty pair of partners; people who
and Mrs.
be trifled with ; people who would dance,
no-
tion of walking. But if they bad be.eanvetwi
been a match
ah, four times ; old Fezziwig evelPd h
mille higher, and I'll use it.
for them, and so would Mrs. Fezziwig.
every sense As
; n:lao tdfweohvetaaahrdhsneeecnrnrne to:ae
and
he
was worthy to be his partner
to issue from Fezziwig's calves
yourarp,darNtniersr.;
Fezziwigbo
m.
They shone in every part
AD'
pthoastiti'vsenloigt
hhtigahpoperaariseed,
. You
couldn't have predict ,
d at
whenanyth e g danceohi,
de nFlei time,Fezziwig
wrl3 gowohnas
Andoof
become of 'elm next-
with his legs, and came upon his feet again with
bad gone all through the dance
and courtesy •
rew ; thread-the;needle, and back again to your'
place ; Fezziwig • cut ' —cut so deftly, that he appeared
out a stagger. When the clock struck eleven,this -
do-
mestic ball broke up. Mr.
treFoeoetrzi
winkwe,
stations, one on either side the door, and shaking hands
took their
with every person individually
wished him or her a as he or she went out,
merry Christmas. When everybody
had ref red but the '
higold hands with
two prentices they did the same to
them ; and thus the cheerful •
voices died away, and the
l-ids were left to their beds ; which were under a counter
in the back shop.—Dickens's Christmas Carol.