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farthing on earth, sir, but what you get from your uncle."

"I beg your pardon- allow me, Sir Booth-I've six hundred a year of my own. I know it's very little; but I've been thought to have some energies; I know I have some friends. I have still my seat in the House, and this Parliament may last two or three years. It is quite possible that I may quarrel with my uncle; I can't help it; I'm quite willing to take my chance of that; and I entreat, Sir Booth, that you won't make this a matter of personal feeling, and attribute to me the least sympathy with the miserable doings of my uncle."

Sir Booth listened to him, looking over the sea as before, as if simply observing the approach of the boat, but he spoke this time in a mitigated tone. "You're no young man," said he, "if you don't owe money. I never knew one with a rich old fellow at his back who didn't."

He paused, and Cleve looked down. "In fact, you don't know how much you owe. If you were called on to book up, d'ye see, there might remain very little to show for your six hundred a year. You're just your uncle's nephew, sir, and nothing more. When you quarrel with him you're a ruined man."

"I don't see that"-began Cleve. "But I do. If he quarrels with you, he'll never rest till he ruins you. That's his character. It might be very different if you had a gentleman to deal with; but you must look the thing in the face. You may never succeed to the title. We old fellows have our palsies and apoplexies; and you, young fellows, your fevers and inflammations. Here you are quite well, and a fever comes, and turns you off like a gaslight the day after; and beside, if you quarrel he'll marry, and where are you then? And I tell you frankly if Mr. Kiffyn Verney has objections to me, I've stronger to him. There's no brother of mine disgraced. Why his elder brother-it's contamination to a gentleman to name him."

"He's dead, sir; Arthur Verney is dead," said Cleve, who was more patient under Sir Booth's bitter language than under any other circumstances he would have been.

-yes-done me the honour to make, and undertakes to make suitable settlements, I shan't stand in the way; I shan't object to your speaking to my daughter, though I can't the least tell how she'll take it; and I tell you from myself I don't like it — I don't by I dont like it. He's a bad

fellow- a nasty dog, sir, as any ¶n England
but that's what I say, sir, and I shan't al-
ter; and you'll please never to mention the
subject to me again except on these con-
ditions: except from him I decline to
hear of it- not a word-and- and,
sir, you'll please to regard my name as
a secret; it has been hitherto; my liberty
depends on it. Your uncle can't possibly
know I'm here?" he added sharply.
"When last I saw him-
a very short
time since he thought you were in
France. You, of course, rely upon my hon-
our, Sir Booth, that no one living shall
hear from me one syllable affecting your
safety."

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"Very good, sir. I never supposed you would; but I mean every one these boatmen, and the people here. No one is to know who I am; and - and what I've said is my ultimatum, sir. And I'll have no correspondence, sir - no attempt to visit any where. You understand. By if you do, I'll let your uncle, Mr. Kiffyn Verney, know the moment I learn it. Be so good as to leave me."

"Good night, sir," said Cleve. Sir Booth nodded slightly. The tall old man went stalking and stumbling over the shingle, toward the water's edge, still watching the boat, his cigar making a red star in the dusk by which Christmas Owen might have steered; and the boatmen that night heard their mysterious steersman from Malory, as he sat with his hand on the tiller, talking more than usual to himself, now and then d -ing unknown persons, and backing his desultory babble to the waves, with oaths that startled those sober-tongued dissenters.

Cleve walked slowly up that wide belt of rounded gray stones, that have rattled and rolled, perhaps, for centuries there, in every returning and retreating tide, and turned at last and looked toward the tall, stately figure of the old man now taking his place "Oh? Well, that does not very much in the boat. Standing in the shadow, he matter," said Sir Booth. "But this is the watched it receding as the moonlight came upshot: I'll have nothing underhand — all out over the landscape. His thoughts beabove board, sir — and if Mr. Kiffyn Ver- gan to clear, and he was able to estimate, ney writes a proper apology — by -he according to his own gauges and rashness, owes me one and puts a stop to the fiend- the value and effect of his interview with ish persecutions he has been directing against the angry and embittered old man. me, and himself submits the proposal you have

-

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He wondered at the patience with which

he had borne this old man's impertinence to visit not to write neither to see nor unparalleled impertinence; yet even now to hear of her! Submission to such condihe could not resent it. He was the father tions was not to be dreamed of. He of that beautiful Margaret. The interview trampled on them, and defied all consewas a mistake-a very mortifying ordeal it had proved and its result was to block his path with new difficulties.

-

Not to approach except through the mediation of his Uncle Kiffyn! He should like to see how his uncle would receive a proposal to mediate in this matter. Not

quences.

Cleve stood on the gray shingle looking after the boat, now running swiftly with the tide. A patch of seaweed like an outstretched hand lay at his feet, and in the fitful breeze lifted a warning finger, again, and again, and again.

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From the Saturday Review. [lieves an Ambassador at Paris from the

LORD COWLEY.

temptation of becoming a partisan of a foreign Government. When the despatches relating to some important crisis are made public, it is amusing and instructive to observe the tendency of diplomatists to identify themselves with the Governments to which they have been accredited. During the Italian wars of 1848 and 1859, the information furnished to the English Government was tinged by opposite prejudices as it proceeded from Vienna or from Turin. The late Lord NORMANBY learned, during his official residence at Florence, to be the enthusiastic advocate of the petty Italian princes; and Sir JAMES HUDSON, representing more accurately the feeling of his countrymen, was almost considered an Itali an patriot. No published correspondence has yet shown that Lord COWLEY had become a Frenchman in his political opinions, although his formal despatches on the eve of the Italian war may seem to indicate credulity. The English practice of printing diplomatic blue-books for the information of Parliament has naturally led to the transaction of much important business by means of private and confidential letters. An Ambassador writing with a view to future publicity may sometimes repeat in his formal despatches, without note or comment, the pacific assurances which he has received, and at the same time may intimate to his Government his own conviction that war is imminent, and that armaments are not the less real because they are officially disavowed.

LORD COWLEY, who is about, after many years, to vacate the Embassy at Paris, has been familiar with the diplomatic service from his infancy. His father, sharing the ability and fortune of his prosperous family, was employed half a century ago in important missions under CASTLEREAGH and CANNING, and ended his official career as Ambassador to France. The qualities of a diplomatist are but little known to the world at large, although now and then the demeanour of an Ambassador placed in an exceptional position attracts general attention. Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE, even before his name was rendered popular by Mr. KINGLAKE, had.often been the object of satire which generally implied respect, and he was regarded with pride and confidence by the English community in the East. The exercise of a kind of reforming protectorate over Turkey pleased the general imagination, especially as it was known that the stern censor of the Porte was always ready, in defence of his client, to face the utmost wrath of Russia. No other foreign representative of England has, in the present generation, attained the same general recognition of his merits. An Ambassador at St. Petersburg, at Vienna, or at Paris cannot affect the character of a Viceroy, or of a resident in a native Indian principality. It is his business to acquire influence at the Court where he resides, to collect useful information for his own Having been successively the organ of Government, and generally to promote a Lord PALMERSTON, of Lord CLARENDON, policy which originates at home. As Lord of Lord RUSSELL, and of Lord STANLEY, COWLEY has during a long period enjoyed Lord COWLEY has probably learnt the truth the confidence of many successive Minis- of Lord ABERDEEN's assertion that the fortries, it may be assumed that he has dis- eign policy of England is substantially the charged his duties with advantage to his same under all Governments. The list of country. Temper, prudence, and accuracy Foreign Secretaries might perhaps be are not brilliant or startling qualities, though abridged, inasmuch as Lord PALMERSTON, they are among the most useful gifts of a when he was in office, always controlled man of business, and more especially of a the foreign policy of England; yet the diplomatist. Perfect tact is more especially nominal head of the department necessarily required where, as in France at the present writes and signs the despatches which exday, Ambassadors have to deal directly with press the intentions of the Cabinet or of the Sovereign, instead of transacting the the First Minister. It was Lord COWLEY'S most important business with a Cabinet. fortune to transmit to the French GovernTo be respectful and conciliatory, and atment Lord RUSSELL'S successive 1efusals to the same time firm, is a proof of vigour and participate in the proposed Congress, and pliability of character; and there is reason to support the efforts of France in the cause to believe that Lord COWLEY was a persona of Poland. It is the business of an ambasgrata at the Tuileries, although he has never sador to be unconscious of offence, even been accused of undue subserviency to the when it is his duty to make the most disaEMPEROR. The facility of communication greeable communications; yet it may perbetween France and England partially re-haps have been a satisfaction to Lord Cow

LEY when the death of Lord PALMERSTON commercial treaty with France in 1786, he relieved Lord RUSSELL of the duty of writ- employed Mr. EDEN, who was the best Ing despatches. Within the same period economist of his time, as Minister Plenipowere included the decision of the English tentiary, although the Duke of DORSET reGovernment to take no share in the Mexi- tained the rank of Ambassador. As the can war, and the frequent interchange of Treaty of 1860 was framed in accordance proposals and advice on the American ques- with the wishes of the EMPEROR, there was, tion. While the people of the United properly speaking, no need of negotiation. States were raving against the treacherous The knowledge possessed by Mr. COBDEN, hostility of the English Government, Lord and the confidence which he commanded COWLEY was incessantly conveying to the among traders and manufacturers, eminently French Government arguments and resolu- qualified him for the useful function of tions in favour of the most scrupulous neu- teaching the French nation the English lestrality. The position of Lord LYONS at son of free trade. His favourite belief that Washington was only one degree more un- commerce was an effectual cure for political enviable than that which imposed on Lord aggression received an instructive comment COWLEY the duty of thwarting day by day in the annexation of Nice and Savoy, while the dearest wishes of the Emperor NAPOLE- he was still adjusting the details of the ON, but the regard for personal courtesy treaty. It is said that greater adroitness in which prevails universally in Europe tends negotiation might have procured for Switzgreatly to diminish the harshness of diplo- erland a portion of the province which now matic collisions. It was well known that the English Ambassador was controlled, not only by his Government, but by the public opinion of his countrymen; and a wise Sovereign prefers an independent representative of national feeling to a sycophant who may mislead him into dangerous enterprises by courtly deference. During Lord COWLEY'S career at Paris, he was more often an opponent than a supporter either of the principle or of the details of French policy, but he seems to have commanded the esteem and goodwill of the EMPEROR, perhaps because he had never attempted to deceive him. It was one of the many foibles of NICHOLAS I. of Russia to exhibit ill humour to foreign Ministers whenever they thwarted his wishes, or offered unwelcome remonstrances. The present ruler of France is wiser, and has more control over bis temper.

forms a part of the French Empire; but in so important a matter the Ambassador was probably relieved from responsibility by the distinct orders of his Government. The coolness which followed the seizure of the Italian provinces yielded gradually, like previous causes of disagreement, to the sense of common interest which has now for thirty years found expression in the alliance of England with France. Neither Poland nor Denmark, neither the crime of ORSINI nor the failure of the joint expedition to Mexico, have permanently disturbed the conviction that the two great nations of the West have a common concern in the defence of civilization in distant regions. The necessity of keeping watch on the ambitious designs of France nearer home has been happily diminished by the establishment, in the centre of Europe, of an independent power of the first order. Lord COWLEY'S sucOne of the most important affairs with cessor will probably have to deal with a which Lord CowLEY was officially connect- policy of peace on the Continent, and he ed was entirely conducted by a non-profes- will not be embarrassed by the dying tradisional negotiator. The Ambassador merely tion of French hostility to England. Lord afforded facilities to Mr. COBDEN'S conduct CoWLEY has been the witness, and perhaps of the Commercial Treaty; and invidious in some degree the promoter, of a change of comparisons were not unnaturally drawn opinion or sentiment which is mainly due to between the active promoter of free trade the rise of a new and less prejudiced geneand the ostensible representative of the ration. Those who remember the popular English Crown. The business of a diplo- language of twenty years ago can best apmatist has, in truth, little connection with preciate the improvement in the spirit of the special arrangements of a tariff. An the French nation. After so complete a Ambassador, like an advocate, must be revolution of feeling, enthusiasts may hope ready to support the interests of his country that at some distant period even American on all occasions, but he is not expected to politicians may learn to treat England with possess the minute knowledge of a practised ordinary good sense and civility. economist. When Mr. PITT negotiated his

From the Saturday Review.
A STORY OF DOOM.*

MISS INGELOW's poems have achieved a merited and rather remarkable popularity, within a very few years. The fly-leaf of the Story of Doom reminds us that her earlier volume has reached its thirteenth edition in ordinary type, and is moreover purchasable in a guinea or two-guinea form, with ninety-seven illustrations by various popular artists. We are unreservedly glad of the fairly-earned success of a poetess whose capacities for eminence we long ago recognized. At the same time we could wish that a rather longer interval had been allowed to elapse before the publication of the set of poems now before us, the longest and most important of which is the Story of Doom. It is to be regretted when even well-deserved appreciation by the public induces an author to follow too strictly the maxim Nulla dies sine linea, and specially so in the case of writers in verse. We hope Miss Ingelow has time enough before her to insure her giving us the benefit of the whole originality of her mind in the most well-considered, and therefore the most enduring, form. We can hardly admit that she has altogether realized this ideal in the present volume; and we cannot escape the consciousness that a story which calls itself" of Doom," and which in fact is the tragic or epic story of Noah's Deluge, ought to be handled with a more powerful grasp, if it is to be handled in poetry at all. We by no means intend to say that Miss Ingelow's picture of the state of the world before the Flood is not a very good one as far as it goes; but it does not go very deep, though perhaps it was hardly to be expect ed that it should have gone any deeper. There is an old story of a sermon once preached by a Welsh parson, which dilated on the various temptations that Noah had to bear at the hands of his neighbours while he was working on the Ark, somewhat after this fashion. The wicked heathens of the Welsh preacher came to Noah and said, "Noah, there is capital good ale at the Red Lion, won't you come and have some?" but Noah went on hammering at his Ark, clump clump-clump. And the wicked heathens came again to Noah and said, "Noah, the hounds are running capital on the hill behind the house, won't you come and see them?" but Noah went on hammering at his Ark, clump― clump — clump.

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A Story of Doom and other Poems. By Jean Ingelow. London: Longmans & Co. 1867.

And when the Flood came, where was
Noah? Safe in the Ark, which he had
built, clump-clump - clump! And where
were the wicked heathens? Howling and
low's poem, as in the Welshman's sermon,
screeching in the waters!" In Miss Inge-
we are more or less obliged to take upon
trust the exemplary wickedness of the
heathen of Noah's day, except in points
analogous to a love of the hounds or of
capital good ale. There is some subtlety in
Miss Ingelow's imagination of the old ser-
pent as an extremely pious and formal char-
acter, much given to persuading the heathen
giants to gorgeous acts of ritual and sacri-
fice. Japhet's love-affair and betrothal to
hold are very prettily and gracefully told
one of the slave-girls of his mother's house-
(if only Japhet had not been Japhet, but
phet is of course altogether a comfort to
some other personage of fiction), and Ja-
his father, which Shem and Ham, equally
of course, are not. There is great pictur-
esquenes of description scattered through
the poem,
and there is considerably greater
individuality of character among the per-
sonages of Noah's household than is wont to
be found among the painted wooden images
which represent them to our youthful ima-
But the fact remains that the Story of Doom
ginations in the Noah's arks of nursery life.
is neither biblical nor grand. We do not
say that such a story need justify itself by
being biblical, but we do say that it does not
justify itself unless it is grand. The Flood
is not a subject upon which good taste can
be satisfied with a merely pretty idyl.

mate subjects into graceful idyls was well
Miss Ingelow's power of turning legiti-
shown in her earlier volume, and the new
volume is not devoid of the same kind of
excellence. "Laurance" is a good simple
idyl of true and false love; "Gladys and
her Island" a reasonably successful allegori-
cal one. Gladys is the normal figure of a
humble pupil-teacher in a school at some
imaginary watering-place, far cleverer than
teaches. One day, when the young ladies
the commonplace young ladies whom she
of the establishment are treated to a picnic,
Gladys is thoughtfully sent by her amiable
employers on a solitary walk, lest she should
become enamoured of pleasures above her
proper station. When she has strolled
decorous young ladies' walk along the shore,
some way beyond the ordinary limit of the
Gladys suddenly sees a wonderful island'
gleaming on the sea-line. A mysterious
woman with a baby comes by, who develops
the faculty of answering Gladys's unuttered
thoughts, and along with her comes a bois-

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