The native American., 1838-03-10


Gle Of the key Of the good old city Delivers
into her hands in her progress to visit the Lor'
Mayor to-day. She wears her crown and hon
ors gracefully, | hear, and the little star Q
Brunswick already augurs bright future TO
merry England
Bravely prophesied! my rural co.," said |
'and not to baulk thy enthusiasm, I'll e'ei
make one with thee, aud swell the trumphan
note Of greeting
Upon such an occasion attention to the toi
lette would be superhuous. am one Of those
who, when they enter upon anything set ou
spiritoso, so pulled an old hat off the rack
and investing my outward man in rough po
coat adapted to rough weather, or rough usage
took my cousin by the arn, and got under way
exactly as the clock struck twelve.
The street live in, debouehes, as the French
cocksparrow used to say in his dispatches, into
the Strand on the north, upon the river Oh the
south. The sound Of artillery reached our ears
from the water-side.
What's that? inquired the young country
gent.
Oh said |, determined on hoax, its her
Majesty coming by barge from the Tower
BAIL said Ned; catch her within the Tow
er--she knows better. It's prison for tip-top
radicals and rebels, like Despard, Burdett, and
Thistlewood, that are ambitious Of being hang
ed for the benefit Of society,"
. laughed at this expression Of homely loyal
ty, affected surprise at his being ignorant that
it was the ancient palace Of our monarchs, and
asked him whether the line of Hanover might
not descend to reside where so many Of the war
like. races the Tudors and Pantagenets, the
Henrys and Edwards, for ages lived
Certainly replied my cousin, sarcastically
sif so many Of them had not rather awkwardly
died there
The sound Of martial music now reached the
ear, and he seemed uncertain for minute, when,
Drawing the terror cOuntryman always feels
at avowing his ignorance, he accosted the next
person, and inquired whence the music came.
The man was one Of that once so favored and
SO tlourishing, now falling and, therefore, dis
contented class, whose avocation, like Othello's
is gone. His huge blue jacket, furnished gold
buttons, large brass badge on the right arm, and
spider-pro portioned legs--albeit clad in white
to make the most Of them-proclaimed him to
be Thames waterman.
why, master, replied the man, that's the
gaudy beak pulling up the river in his state
barge to ak the big wigs at Westminster to the
Queens dinner. A pretty sight it is too, il
this here fog would let you see it. It's Almost
the only thing now that's nat'ral on the river,
or moved BY oars But added he, with a
face fast elongating, that sight'll soon be seen
no more; for I'm blessed if Mr.. Maudslay, the
steam engineer, has not got half dozen d
them cursed kettles now on the stocks build
ing, to boil the mayor and corporation UP ano
down the river in twinkling, when they goe
out pleasuring. There's no Woolwich, o
Putney, or Richmond now for poor buffers
like me, as has sarved their king and country
and been knocked about by the Mounseers all
the war Now look ye here, interrupted he,
raising his hat, and pointing to an ugly cash
over his right temple on which the hair had
long ceased to grow, i got that from the thiev-
ing pirates, with Admiral Pellew. off Algiers-
the same shell that stove in my fgure-head,
sent every other man at that gun into another
world in atwinkling. | say, sir, poor buffers
like me never gets job now, often for week
or two together:-I used to be fat and hearty
before these steamers coined into fashion; but
now neither nor the old woman can afford our
selves witta!S; and falls away in flesh so fast,
that the young pickep-up- -along-shore waga-
bonds snigger, and swear I'm not a waterman,
but a Hghterman. There was time, master
but sorrow and starvngs knocked all the fight
out ONE
/ knew by experience the insolent selfish
ness of these fellows, and suspecting how all
this would end, gradually increased my distance.
Its tarnation raw morning. Mayhap, sir,
continued the sculler, you'd stand drop OF
summat short to keep the fog out of poor de-
Wis stomach, that ha'n't tasted bit O. wittals
to- day.
Come, said l. there's no use in delaying
here; the fog will let you see nothing on the
river. Come"