region, for which nature has done everything, and man nothing, by the assurance that at present it is entirely unfitted for the settlement of emigrants, except such as "Leave their country for their country's good." "He has taken Iowa short," is the American phrase for a rascal who has made other places "too hot to hold him." The following is part of Mr Sidney Smith's general summing up of the western states. They abound in beautiful flowers, wild fruits, and birds of every variety, and of the gayest plumage. The glow-worm and firefly, and butterflies of every hue are common; and the mosquitoes in the shelter of the woods are very annoying. Snakes are very numerous, of great variety, and some of them exceedingly dangerous; yet few accidents happen from their attacks. Day and night are more equally divided in America than in Europe; and in the former there is an entire absence of twilight, or gray, still evening, darkness hastening on the moment the sun sinks behind the horizon. As a general rule, roads are few and bad, and bridges still worse. Public conveyances are conducted in an inconvenient way, from the independence of the conductors upon the custom of the public; and inns and steamboats are indifferently regulated. In the former, the innkeepers bear themselves as the obliging parties, and often decline to serve customers when it is inconvenient. The beds and bedrooms are very badly managed, and the houses overcrowded. The balance of testimony is in favour of the American character for evenness of temper, deference to women, substantial good manners, with great plainness of speech and address, and great and genuine kindness to the sick or the distressed, particularly strangers, widows, and orphans. Commercial integrity is low, and there is much overreaching and sharpness in bargains and mercantile contracts. The litigious and pettifogging tendencies of the people are the result of their acuteness, logical intellect, and inferior sentimental endowments. Law and lawyers are the curse of the country, and it is emphatically said that an American will go to law with his own father about a penny. . . . The market of England is now opened for the provisions and grain of the western states, and we cannot entertain a doubt that for centuries to come this great republic must advance in comfort, security, prosperity, and every good which can make civilisation desirable, and the institution of society an element of human happiness.' Texas has been denounced by the Land Emigration Commissioners, and our author has little to say in its favour. The southern position of Texas, and its capability of raising tropical productions, argue a too torrid climate for a European constitution. It is comparatively unsettled; it is a border debateable land betwixt Mexico and the United States; and it is peopled by the scum and refuse, the daring, adventurous, and lawless, of all other countries. When fully peopled, well settled, and placed under the vigorous control of permanent government and institutions, its natural capabilities will render it a desirable place of settlement.' He merely mentions Oregon, Vancouver's Island, and California. In the first, the climate and soil are unobjectionable, but everything else is bad; Vancouver's Island may offer greater advantages to the adventurous; but both of them, and California in a more especial manner, may be regarded as the destination only of men of desperate fortunes, and as a certain source of unhappiness to all persons of orderly, industrious, prudent, and virtuous habits. Their ultimate fate will, in all probability, be prosperous; and if the new projects for connecting the Pacific with the Atlantic by canals joining chains of lakes and rivers, or by railways or aqueducts at the Isthmus of Panama, be speedily realised, they may become much more rapidly populated and settled than is with the present means probable.' We have now run rapidly through the portion of the volume devoted to the United States, and we do not hesitate to say that we consider the work to be a most useful and impartial publication; and even without reference to any practical purpose of emigration, extremely well adapted for the perusal of the general reader. THE SAILOR PRELATE. IT was in the year 1580 that Sir Francis Drake returned in triumph to his native land, after a successful expedition against the Spaniards in the South Seas. He anchored at Deptford, and Queen Elizabeth honoured the brave admiral by dining on board his ship. After the banquet, her majesty conferred the honour of knighthood on her entertainer, and inquired of him whether he wished to name any captain in his fleet as peculiarly distinguished for valour. 'So please your majesty,' said Drake, many there are in every ship who have borne themselves right bravely, as the subjects of their gracious mistress should; but one there is who merits praise above all, for by his steady daring alone three goodly galleons were taken. He stood himself at the guns until victory was declared, although a finger of his right hand was shot off, and he had received various grievous wounds. His name is William Lyon, commander of the Albion.' 'Let him be introduced into our presence,' said the queen; we love to look on a brave man.' Sir Francis bowed, gave the necessary directions, and after a brief delay Captain Lyon was ushered into the royal presence. He was a good-featured, finely-formed man, with the blunt, frank bearing of a British sailor; in the present instance slightly dashed by a consciousness of his position. Her majesty received him with that kindly manner which she knew so well how to combine with dignity-a species of 'king-craft' which seldom fails to secure for sovereigns the warm love of their people. She asked him several questions touching the late expedition, which he answered in a sensible, respectful manner; and the queen dismissed him, saying, You deserve to rise, Captain Lyon; and we now pledge our royal word that you shall have the first vacancy that offers.' She then gave him her hand to kiss, and the gallant seaman retired. About three months afterwards, as the queen on a state day was giving audience to her nobles, Captain William Lyon presented himself and craved an interview with her majesty. Good Queen Bess, among whose faults indifference to the wants and wishes of her subjects could not be classed, willingly granted his request, and smiled as she asked him to make known his wishes. 'Please your majesty, I come,' he said, to remind you of your gracious promise. You said I should have the first vacancy that offered; and I have just heard that the see of Cork, in the south of Ireland, is vacant by the demise of the bishop; therefore I hope your majesty will give it me, and so fulfil your royal word." 'Gramercy,' said the queen, this is taking us at our word with a witness! How say you, my lord,' she continued, turning to the Earl of Essex, who stood beside the throne; would a brave sailor, think you, answer for a bishop in our troublous kingdom of Ireland?' 'If Captain Lyon's clerkly skill, please your majesty, be equal to so grave a charge, his worth and valour (of which I have heard much) will, I doubt not, render him worthy of your Grace's favour.' 'Besides,' chimed in the captain, as undauntedly as though he stood on his own quarterdeck, her majesty promised me the first vacancy; and God forbid she should be the first of her royal house who was worse than the word of their lips!' A less absolute sovereign than Elizabeth might probably have been offended at these blunt words, and have dismissed the unlucky speaker with scant ceremony; but thoroughly secure in power, she liked to reign in her people's hearts, and besides she had the rough old Tudor love for words of truth and deeds of boldness: therefore a right royal burst of laughter proceeded from the throne, echoed by the attendant courtiers; and when the queen's merriment had subsided, she graciously dismissed Captain Lyon, with the assurance that his request should meet with due attention. An inquiry into the seaman's qualifications was accordingly instituted, and the result as to his moral character being perfectly satisfactory, and the fact of his having received a tolerable literary education being established, the queen was graciously pleased to grant his request; and Wil-Jaffa, after an 'examination of the course of the Jordan, liam Lyon was duly consecrated Bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross. Elizabeth said to him on the occasion, 'I trust, Master Lyon, you will take as good care of the church as you have done of the state;' and indeed, contrary to all reasonable expectation, he did make a most excellent prelate carefully extending his patronage to the most exemplary men, and labouring with unwearied zeal to promote the interests of the diocese. He built the present episcopal palace, situated near the cathedral; and over the mantelpiece in the dining-room hangs his portrait, very finely painted. He is represented in his naval uniform, and his right hand is minus the fourth finger. Bishop Lyon enjoyed his elevation for twenty-five years, with reputation to himself and benefit to his diocese. He never attempted to preach but once-on the occasion of the queen's death. When that melancholy event occurred, he thought it his duty to pay the last honours to his royal mistress, and accordingly ascended the pulpit in Christ-Church, in the city of Cork. After giving a good discourse on the uncertainty of life, and the great and amiable qualities of the queen, he concluded in the following characteristic manner :- Let those who feel this loss deplore with me on the melancholy occasion; but if there be any that hear me (as perhaps there may be) who have secretly longed for this event, they have now got their wish, and the devil do them good with it!' The remains of Bishop Lyon have recently been discovered by some workmen employed in repairing the palace. In a corner of the lawn are the ruins of what was once the chapel; and when some stones and earth were removed, a tombstone was discovered, with an inscription in old English raised characters, stating that the tomb was erected for William Lion, an Englis man born, bishop of Corke, Clon, and Ross, in the happi raigne of Queen Elizabet, defender of the ancent apostolike faithe.' A BOAT EXPEDITION DOWN THE JORDAN. A GOOD deal of attention, scientific and otherwise, has of late been directed to the Holy Land and adjoining countries; many interesting points of geography and topography have been discussed, among others, the depression of the Dead Sea, the level of which has been ascertained to be more than 1300 feet below that of the Mediterranean. The Sea of Tiberias also is reckoned as 84 feet below the latter level; the difference between the two lakes, which are 60 miles apart, being more than 1000 feet. This observation, made by the president of the Geographical Society in 1842, has elicited additional remarks and suggestions; and Dr Robinson, in discussing it, states that in the distance traversed by the river there is room for three cataracts, each equal in height to Niagara.' Some authorities affirm that the observations to determine the levels must have been incorrect; on the other hand, it has been shown by comparison with British rivers, that there is nothing extraordinary in the presumed fall. The Dee is a river which may be classed with the Jordan: from the Linn of Dee to the sea, 72 miles, the fall is 16 feet to the mile; and in this distance there are neither rapids nor cataracts. In the fall of the Tweed we have a nearly parallel illustration. The question, however, has been answered for the present in another way, an account of which appears in the last published part of the Geographical Society's 'Journal." Lieutenant Molyneux of the ship Spartan, left the vessel at Caiffa on the Bay of Acre towards the end of August 1847, with three seamen, who had volunteered for the occasion, and Toby, a dragoman. The object was to transport the dingy (ship's smallest boat) on camels' backs overland to Tiberias; to proceed from thence down the Jordan to the Dead Sea, and return by way of Jerusalem and as well as of the valley through which it flows, and specially to measure the depth of the Dead Sea.' The commander of the vessel offered every aid, and furnished his lieutenant with letters from and to the authorities of the country, so as to facilitate operations among the Bedouin tribes, from whom molestation was to be apprehended. Four camels were provided for the boat and baggage, besides horses. After two days' travelling, the party arrived at the top of the last ridge of hills overlooking the Lake of Tiberias and the Valley of the Jordan, and enjoyed a most magnificent view. Jebel Sheikh, smothered in clouds, was distinctly seen; before us were the blue waters of Tiberias, surrounded by fine ranges of hills; to the left the white ruins of Safed, perched on a hill; and near the northern end of the lake a gap in the mountains, with a green patch, which pointed out the spot where the Jordan discharges its waters into Tiberias.' In descending the hills to the lake-shore the difficulties began. By degrees,' says Lieutenant Molyneux, 'the road became so steep that we were obliged to hold the boat up by ropes, till at length we arrived at a point beyond which the camels could not proceed, and to return was impossible: the stones, when started, rolled to the bottom; the camels began to roar; then followed the usual trembling of the legs-the certain precursor of a fall; and, in short, to save the boat, it became necessary to cut the lashings, and let her slide down on her keel to the foot of the hill. There we again harnessed the unfortunate camels, and proceeded without further mishap to Tiberias, where, passing under the walls of the town, we pitched our tent within a few yards of the water.' After crossing the lake once or twice, and taking soundings and other observations, the boat was steered for the entrance of the river; and encamping for the night on the bank, the party were visited by numbers of Arabs, who, after some persuasion, left them unmolested, but kept the travellers in a state of apprehension during the night, and again the next morning for several miles of the route. The true character of the stream soon became apparent, as the officer relates:Hitherto, for the short distance we had come, the river had been upwards of 100 feet broad and 4 or 5 feet deep; but the first turning after leaving the Arabs brought us to the remains of a large ruined bridge, the arches of which, having all fallen down, obstructed our passage. Here our difficulties commenced; and for seven hours that we travelled that day, we scarcely ever had sufficient water to swim the boat for 100 yards together.' The Arabs hung on the skirts of the party, apparently with a view of turning any misadventure to account; and when villages were passed, the whole population turned out to look at the strangers. Sometimes the river spread out into shallow channels, in which the boat had to be unloaded, and carried over the obstructing rocks and bushes. The Ghor, or great Valley of the Jordan,' is described as 'about 8 or 9 miles broad; and this space is anything but a flat-nothing but a continuation of bare hills with yellow dried-up weeds, which look, when distant, like cornstubbles. These hills, however, sink into insignificance when compared to the ranges of mountains which enclose the Ghor; and it is therefore only by comparison that this part of the Ghor is entitled to be called a valley.' Besides other impediments, the river was obstructed by numerous weirs, built by the Arabs to divert the water into the frequent small channels cut for irrigating their fields. It was not easy to pass these weirs with- notwithstanding the windings of the river, as the water was good, and as she had four men to pull and one to steer (Grant, Lyscomb, Winter, with the guide we had brought from Tiberias, and the man we had engaged by the road), I expected her arrival in about an hour.' The boat, however, did not arrive; and the lieutenant becoming anxious, sent out scouts to look for her, but they returned unsuccessful. Meantime he had taken up a secure position with his party, and eventually determined on going in search of the missing crew himself; but being ignorant of the language, Toby offered to go in his stead. The lieutenant then pursues:- After most anxiously awaiting his return for an hour, he came back full gallop to inform me that he had found the boat; that she had been attacked; and that he had learned this painful intelligence from the guide and the other Arab, who were now alone bringing her down the river. ... Forty or fifty men had collected on the banks on each side of the river, armed with mus at the boat, and firing into the water close to her; and The In this way the travellers proceeded, opposed not only by natural obstacles, but by the fierce and rapacious character of the natives. In some places the river was so rocky and shallow, that it was found desirable to transfer the boat again for a time to the camels' backs. On this occasion, observes the lieutenant-kets; and commenced their attack by throwing stones From a hill over which our road lay I had a very fine view of the whole valley, with its many Arab encampments, all made of the common coarse black camel-hair cloth. Very large herds of camels were to be seen in every direction stalking about upon the apparently barren hills in search of food. The Jordan had split into two streams of about equal size shortly after leaving El Buk'ah; and its winding course, which was marked by luxuriant vegetation, looked like a gigantic serpent twisting down the valley. After forming an island of an oval form, and about five or six miles in circumference, the two branches of the Jordan again unite immediately above an old curiously-formed bridge, marked in the map as Jisr Mejamia.' On encamping in the evening, an interesting instance of sagacity is recorded by the leader. I was much interested,' he writes, during the night, in observing the extraordinary sagacity of the Arab mares, which are indeed beautiful creatures. The old sheik lay down to sleep, with his mare tied close to him, and twice during the evening she gave him notice of the approach of footsteps by walking round and round; and when that did not awaken him, she put her head down and neighed. The first party she notified were some stray camels, and the second some of our own party returning. The Benisakhers generally ride with a halter only, except when they apprehend danger; and then, the moment they take their bridles from their saddle-bow, the mares turn their heads round, and open their mouths to receive the bit.' For the next few days, so frequent were the disputes with the Arabs, the bargainings with new escorts, that the lieutenant was almost driven mad.' Sometimes the Bedouins would go off in a body, thinking to frighten him into terms; but the party were well armed, and could command a certain degree of respect. So tortuous, too, was the river, that, as we are told, it would be impossible to give any account of the various turnings; and the leader was obliged to ride continually between the boat and the baggage, to ascertain the relative position of each: a railway-whistle which he had with him proved very useful in making signals. The expedition, indeed, was almost like moving an army in an enemy's country-not only looking out for positions where we could not be taken by surprise, but anxiously looking out also for supplying our commissariat.' With the thermometer ranging from 83 to 110 degrees, this was no enviable task. On the 30th of the month, it having been found impossible to satisfy the exorbitant demands of the Arabs, Lieutenant Molyneux determined on proceeding with out an escort; and after the place of rendezvous was reached by the mounted party, continues:-'We, as usual, stuck Toby's spear in the ground, with the ensign flying on it, as a signal for the boat to bring up, intending to proceed as soon as she arrived. The last time I had seen her was from the top of the western cliffs; she was then nearly abreast of us; and The party were now in a critical position: surrounded on all sides by bands of notorious plunderers, and darkness coming on, added to which, anxiety as to the fate of the missing men, rendered the lieutenant truly miserable. It seemed cruel to abandon them; but the only chance of safety and succour lay in reaching Jericho as speedily as possible. The two natives who had brought the boat down were with much difficulty persuaded to take her on to the castle, and in case of the non-arrival of the party, to make their way from thence to Jerusalem, and report their position to the consul. The lieutenant, with Toby and an old man as guide and driver of the animals, then set forward; and notwithstanding the difficulties of the ground, and at times losing their way, reached Jericho, a distance of more than thirty miles, just at sunrise. The letter from the governor of Beirout was forthwith presented to the old governor at the castle; and so well did the lieutenant urge his case, that in a short time four wellmounted soldiers, accompanied by the guide with refreshments, and a note for the sailors, were scouring the country in search of them. Meantime Lieutenant Molyneux rode over to Jerusalem, where, in company with the consul, he visited the pasha, and obtained from him letters to two other pashas, directing them to send out men to the search, besides ten soldiers to assist the officer in his own exploration, and accompany him afterwards to the Dead Sea. On returning to Jericho, the boat was found to have arrived; and the next day the district of country in which the outrage occurred was diligently explored, but without obtaining any tidings of the missing unfortunates; a result which, despite a hope that the men might have succeeded in reaching the coast, threw the lieutenant into a desponding and gloomy mood.' He determined, however, on accomplishing, if possible, the grand object of the expedition; and the agha (leader of the soldiers) was requested to be in readiness with his men the following morning. At last,' pursues the lieutenant, we reached the mouth of the river, where I was glad to find the boat floating on the slug gish waters of the Dead Sea. We had great difficulty in getting anywhere near the shore, on account of the marshy nature of the ground, several horses and mules having sunk up to their bodies in the mud; but at length we pitched the tent on a small patch of sound but sandy ground.' Two soldiers were left in charge of the tent, while the officer, with Toby and two men, an Arab and Greek, embarked. We shoved off,' he says, 'just as it was falling dark, with only two oars, and with no one who had much idea of using them except myself, or any notion of boat-sailing. Under these circumstances, as I made sail and lost sight of the northern shore, I could not help feeling that I was embarked in a silly, if not a perilous undertaking. The breeze gradually freshened, till there was quite sea enough for such a little craft: we passed several patches of white frothy foam, and as the sea made an unusual noise, I was many times afraid that they were breakers.' Two days and nights were passed on the bosom of the dread lake: when the sun was up, the party were scorched by the heat, as though they were in a wellheated oven; and on the second night they were chilled with cold winds, and the boat became so leaky as to add greatly to the risk. In some places the arid cliffs rise perpendicularly to the height of 1200 or 1500 feet, and only in one little gap was there any sign of vegetation: a drearier scene could scarcely be imagined. Soundings were taken three times, the deepest being 225 fathoms, and the least 178 fathoms; the lead brought up rock-salt, and dark-coloured mud. On the second day,' continues the narrative, at eleven o'clock, we got sight of the tent; and at twelve we reached the shore, quite done up, and thankful for having escaped, which none of us expected to do the night before. Everything in the boat was covered with a nasty slimy substance: iron was dreadfully corroded, and looked as if covered in patches with coal-tar; and the effect of the salt spray upon ourselves, by lying upon the skin, and getting into the eyes, nose, and mouth, produced constant thirst and drowsiness, and took away all appetite. of the death of this gallant officer, which took place, through the combined effect of climate and over-exertion, soon after his return to the ship. MR JEREMIAH JOBSON'S 'THREE DAYS.' THE revolutions, the fall of potentates, the change of dynasties recorded in the columns of the daily press, numerous as they have been of late, are trifling and insignificant, not alone in point of number, of which there can be no dispute, but also, I suspect, in importance to the parties more immediately affected, when compared with those which sometimes occur in private life. A vivid illustration of this truth is supplied by the following transcript of a brief but stormy passage in the history-hitherto restricted to very private circulation-of Mr Jeremiah Jobson, a gentleman who for several years enjoyed a rather distinguished position in numerous sporting and fancy circles. On the evening of Tuesday the 13th day of February last, Mr Jeremiah Jobson, a stout, portly, rubicundvisaged personage of some fifty years of age, was sitting, painfully meditative, in the large handsomely-furnished drawing-room of Mr Charles Frampton, a young but wealthy silk-mercer of famous London town. It was just between the lights, and candles had not been brought in; but the ruddy fire-blaze sufficed to trace the workings of a perturbed spirit in his flame-coloured countenance, and to bring into bright relief the object towards which his troubled glance was principally directed— namely, a new, splendidly-carved, and highly-polished rosewood pianoforte. Mr Jobson was just returned from a fortnight's sojourn with a sporting friend in the country, and the first intimation he had of the calamity with which he was threatened, was the sight of that instrument of harmony. Although a man, as he frequently boasted, of first-rate energy and unbounded resource, he was for several minutes overwhelmed, bewildered, paralysed. Crusoe could not have been more unpleasantly startled by the naked foot-print on the sand. The housekeeper-Mr Frampton was out-was instantly summoned, and a few questions amply sufficed to convince Mr Jobson that nothing but the most consummate generalship could prevent the sceptre he had so long wielded, with immense satisfaction to himself at least, from passing from his grasp a catastrophe not to be thought of without terror and dismay. 'As to the alleged destructive effect of the Dead Sea on birds flying over its surface, we killed some which were actually standing in the water; and on Saturday, while in the very centre of the sea, I three times saw ducks, or some other fowl, fly past us within shot. I saw no signs, however, of fish, or of any living thing in the water, although there were many shells on the beach. I always suspected it would come this way,' mused I must here mention a curious broad strip of foam which Jobson; and directly I saw that abominable case of appeared to lie in a straight line, nearly north and south, wires, I knew the crisis was at hand. Pianos and throughout the whole length of the sea. It did not petticoats, music and matrimony, generally run in commence, as might be supposed, at the exit of the couples; although'-and he laughed savagely- there's Jordan, but some miles to the westward, and it seemed a precious sight of difference, I am told, between the to be constantly bubbling and in motion, like a stream pretty tunes played before, and the airs with variations that runs rapidly through a lake of still water; while after the ceremony. To be married to-morrow, and I, nearly over this white track, during both the nights as I am returned, to have the felicity of giving the that we were on the water, we observed in the sky a bride away! Well, Heaven forgive me all my sins! white streak like a cloud, extending also in a straight | I suppose I must do it. It's obviously too late to preline from north to south, and as far as the eye could reach.' Just after starting the next day to return to Jericho, the party saw a horseman at a distance gallopping towards them, and at times firing a pistol; and we can sympathise with the leader's 'inexpressible delight that it proved to be the consul's janizary, with a letter to tell me that the three lost men had reached Tiberias in safety; he brought me also a most kind letter from Captain Symonds, enclosing a copy of the account that they had given him of their adventures. It would be a mere waste of words to state my joy at these tidings.' The boat was carried back to the coast, and on the 12th of September Lieutenant Molyneux found himself once more on board the Spartan. And until more accurate information shall be obtained, we may consider that the question as to the nature of the Jordan is answered. We wish we could close our narrative here: but it is necessary, however painful, to add, that since the above columns were commenced, intelligence has been received vent the marriage: I had better, therefore, endeavour to make the best of it. As for Charles, I have summered and wintered him, and know thoroughly well how he's to be managed. Through him I must govern the wife, since wife it seems there must be. That will scarcely prove, I should think, a very difficult task to a man of my experience and knowledge of the world. . . . Not only very handsome, but, according to Mrs Hornsby's account, uncommonly mild-spoken and amiable. doubt she is just now-they all are before the noose is fairly adjusted-all softness, all charmingness, all distracting gammon; but the question is whether afterwards' No Mr Jobson's troubled soliloquy was here interrupted by the entrance of a servant bringing lights. 'Is Mir Frampton returned?' 'No, sir.' him.' The instant he comes in, tell him I wish to sce 'Yes, sir.' The servant withdrew, and Mr Jobson resumed his melancholy musings: : Man is a dissatisfied animal, there's no mistake about that! Here, now, is Charles Frampton, rolling in clover without ever having had the trouble of sowing it. His father, Old Timothy, must have left him at least, one way or another, eleven or twelve thousand pounds, besides the trade and clear stock; and though we have gone the pace, his fortune can't be much diminished with such a revenue coming in from the business! He is fond of the turf, the ring, sporting of all kinds; and, thanks to my experience and advice, he is enabled to cut a dashing figure in them all. I have been his bosom counsellor and friend these five years past; I have taken all trouble off his hands, arranged his betting-book, managed his stable, his table, and his cellar for him; and yet he's not contented! The perversity of human nature is really outrageous !' He was interrupted by the hasty entrance of his very ungrateful friend Charles Frampton, a rather goodlooking young man of about six or seven-and-twenty years of age, and, like his mentor, somewhat buckishly attired. Ah! Jobson, my old boy, how are you? Welcome back!'--and he shook hands pretty heartily with his philosopher and guide. But come, Hornsby has of course told you all about it. Mrs Herbert and her sister are down stairs, and I wish to introduce you.' Mrs Herbert!' gasped Jobson; a widow! an experience' A widow! yes; and what of that? She is still two or three years my junior. But come along, and judge for yourself.' Mr Charles Frampton led the way out of the apartment, and Mr Jobson, groaning heavily in spirit, followed with reluctant steps. Jobson solemnly, as the expectant bridegroom re-entered the room, after seeing them safely off in a cab; ‘Charles, did my ears deceive me, or is there a family-babbies?" 'Oh yes, Jobson; did'nt I mention it?' returned Mr Charles Frampton, whose flashing eyes and flushed cheek proclaimed that he was still in the seventh heaven. 'Maria has two, I think, perhaps three-if a dozen, it's of no consequence-pictures in little of her charming self. Beautiful as angels I have no doubt they are. Maria married very early, as I told you. Of course she did. How could it be otherwise?' Jobson snatched up his chamber candlestick, and bolted out of the room. But compassion, either for himself or his friend, induced him to return, with a view possibly to a last effort. He opened the door, but a glance sufficed to convince him of the utter hopelessness' of the attempt. His once docile pupil had seated himself in an easy-chair, and, with his legs stretched at full length, and his arms crossed on his breast, was apostrophising the lady's portrait-an admirable likeness by Chalon, brought home the day before. In the mellifluous words of Moore 'Her floating eyes! oh they resemble Blue water-lilies Meantime the ladies had safely arrived at their abode in Islington-a rather genteel-looking domicile, upon the outer door of which glittered a brass-plate, intimating to passers-by that the inmates kept a seminary for young ladies.' They had not long arrived when a visitor was announced-Mrs Barstowe, a young and rather interesting-looking person, who, with the familiarity of an old acquaintance, hastened to exchange greetings with Mrs Miley. My dear Caroline, how well you are looking; and where's Maria?' Jobson stayed to see no more, but slamming too the door, hastened off, and was soon in bed; for he was not only mind-harassed, but travel-wearied. 'Well,' thought he, as he laid his very uneasy head upon the pillow, this is going the pace-this is! Two widows, both of whom know how many beans make five, if ever woman did, and three small angels in petticoats, are pretty well to begin with at any rate! But never mind. That black-eyed divinity laughs gaily just now; but we have yet to see who will laugh last. Charley's The introduction over, the four sat down to tea, and tastes are fixed, I know. Habit with him is second Jobson had leisure to observe that Mrs Herbert-Maria, | nature; and when a honey-week or so has passed, as Charles Frampton called her-was really an elegant, Richard will be himself again," or I am very much beautiful woman, certainly not more than three or four-mistaken.' With this consolatory prophecy Mr Jobson and-twenty years of age. Her sister-also a youthful fell asleep. widow, a Mrs Miley-was, he saw, a merry, keen-looking, black-eyed person, about two years her senior. After tea, Mr Frampton and his fiancée went up stairs to look at the new piano, leaving Mr Jobson to entertain the sister, Caroline. She seemed in exceedingly good spirits, and displayed a vivacity and archness in her conversation that quite captivated her companion. He was graciously pleased to assure her, that not only should he interpose no obstacle to his friend's union with her sister, but that in fact he was rather pleased than otherwise he had made so judicious a choice. This assurance and encomium seemed to tickle the lady's fancy amazingly, and her merry eyes twinkled with roguish humour; but when Jobson, in pursuance of the patronising scheme he had mentally resolved upon since he had seen the bride, condescended to say that he should be pleased to see her there very often of an evening, and that he would, moreover, use his influence with Charles to have her very frequently invited indeed, she burst into a laugh so loud and merry, that the room rang again with her exuberant mirth. She, however, qualified her apparent rudeness by exclaiming, as soon as she could sufficiently recover breath- Will you really, though? Why, what a dear, good-natured old soul you must be!' The carnation of Mr Jobson's cheeks deepened several shades, and at the same time a chilling doubt of ultimate success in the struggle in which he was so suddenly and calamitously involved swept over him. Had he not known himself to be a man of first-rate energy and resource, or if the stake at issue had been less enormous, he would-so rapidly did a sense of the difficulties of his position crowd upon his brain-have abandoned the field at once. Whilst he was still dubitating, the lovers returned; and one or two rubbers of whist, proposed by Mr Jobson, carried the party in a sufficiently satisfactory manner through the evening. In the next room with the milliner. But what brings you here at this time of night?' 'How can you ask me, when you are aware how much I am interested in the event of to-morrow, and that I know my brother's evil genius-that horrid Jobson-is returned home!' 'Well, if that be all, make your mind perfectly easy. Your brother is too much in love with Maria for that knave's influence to avail in preventing the match. I have told you so half-a-dozen times.' You have; but if you knew how constantly Charles has deferred to him for these five or six years past; that he has had sufficient influence to prevent a reconcilement between my brother and his own two sisters' Well, but I do know all about it. I have heard the story over and over again, and can repeat it out of book. Miss Mary and Miss Jane Frampton-foolish girls both of them-married: one a young surgeon with scarcely any practice; the other, worse still, one of her father's shopinen: both very excellent persons, I daresay ' Oh yes; indeed they are. Which silly as undutiful conduct naturally greatly offended Mr Timothy Frampton, who had other views for them both. He, dying shortly afterwards, bequeathed the whole of his property to his son, which |