Refreshing more than sinful swipes,

The weary man

Who quaffs a can,

there was one obvious duty which the noble lord owed to his ancient name to the fame of his public position to the coronet, whose

That sparkling foams through leaden pipes. golden band encircled his distinguished brow

CHORUS.

Let every man,

Then, fill his can,

And fill the glass

Of every lass

In brimming bumpers sparkling clear,
To pledge the health of Verney's Peer!

and above all, to the ancient feudal dependency of Cardyllian "- - (hear, hear)

and that was to select from his country's beauty, fascination, and accomplishment, and he might say loveliness, a partner worthy to share the rmine and the coronet and the name and the the ermine (hear, hear) of the ancient house of Verney " (loud cheers);

And then came a chill and ghastly "hip-" and need he add that when the selection hip, burrab," and with some gracious inquir- was made, it was hoped and trusted and asies on Lord Verney's part as to the num-pired after, that the selection would not be bers, progress, and finances of "their inter- made a hunderd miles away from the ivied esting association," and a subscription of turrets, the feudal ruins, the gushing founten pounds, which Mr. John Swillers took leave to remark, "wouldn't be laid out on water, by no means," the viscount, with grand and radiant Mr. Larkin at his elbow, and frequently murmuring in his ear to the infinite disgust of my friend, the Cardyllian attorney, thus out-strutted and outcrowed on his own rustic elevation- was winning golden opinions from all sorts of

men.

tains, and the spacious town-hall of Cardyllian -(loud and long-continued cheering, amid which the gallant captain, very hot, and red, and smiling furiously, sat down with a sort of lurch, and drank off a glass of champagne, and laughed and giggled a little in his chair while the" cheering and laughter continued).

And Lord Verney rose, not at all hurt by this liberty, very much amused on the .contrary, and in high good humour his lordship said

"Allow me to say I am sure you will "

(hear, hear, and cries of "We will ") — "I say, I am sure you will permit me to say that the ladies of Cardyllian, a-a-about it, seem to me to have chosen a very eloquent· spokesman in the gallant and I have no doubt distinguished officer who has just addressed the house. We have all been entertained by the eloquence of Captain Scollop"[here the mayor deferentially whispered something to the noble orator] I beg pardon-Captain Grapnell who sits at the table, with his glass of wine, about it

The party went on, after the wonders of the town had been exhausted, to look at Malory, and thence returned to a collation, at which toasts were toasted and speeches spoken, and Captain Shrapnel spoke, by arrangement, for the ladies of Cardyllian in his usual graceful and facetious manner, with all the puns and happy allusions which a month's private diligence, and, I am sorry to say, some shameless plagiarisms from three old numbers of poor Tom Hood's "Comic Annual," could get together, and the gallant captain concluded by observing that the noble lord whom they had that day the honour and happiness to congratulate, intended, he understood, everything that was splendid and very good wine it is-bis glass, I and liberal and handsome, and that the town say, where it should be, in his hand "- (hear, of Cardyllian, in the full radiance of the hear, and laughter, and "You got it there, meridian sunshine, whose golden splendour captain.") And I assure the gallant capproceeded from the south The cardinal tain I did not mean to be severe - only we point at which the great house of Ware is are all joking—and I do say that he has his visible from the Green of Cardyllian"-hand-my gallant friend, Captain Grabblet, (hear, hear, and laughter) — “there remain- has it—where every gal'ant officer's ought ed but one grievance to be redressed, and to be, about it, and that is, upon his weathat set to rights, every ground of complaint pon (hear, hear, laughter, and cries of would slumber forever, he might say, in the His lordship's too strong for you, capgreat bed of Ware" (loud cheers and tain.") "I don't mean to hurt him, laughter)" and what was that complaint? though, about it, (renewed cries of hear, and He was instructed by his fair, lovely, and laughter), during which the captain shook beautiful clients the ladies of Cardyllian his ears a little, smiling into his glass rather - some of whom he saw in the gallery, and foolishly, as a man who was getting the some still more happily situated at the fes-worst of it, and knew it, but took it all tive board" (a laugh). "Well, he was, he pleasantly. "No, it would not be fair to repeated, instructed by them to say that the ladies about it, (renewed laughter and

cheering)," and all I will say is this, about | captain, to wound him, I say, even in front." it there are parts of Captain Scraplet's (Laughter, cheering, and a voice from speech, which I shan't undertake to answer the gallery "Hit him hard, and he won't at this moment. I feel that I am tres- swell," "Order.")" But I think I was bound passing, about it, for a much longer time to make that observation in the interest of than I had intended," (loud cries of "No, the ladies of Cardyllian, about it;" (renewno, Go on, go on," and cheering), du- ed laughter);" and, for my part, I promise ring which the mayor whispered something my gallant friend my captain about to the noble lord, who, having heard it it that although I may take some time, twice or thrice repeated, nodded to the may- like himself" (lud laughter); "yet alor in evident apprehension, and when si- though I cannot let fall, about it, any obserlence was restored proceeded to say, "I have vation that may con mit me, yet I do promjust heard, without meaning to say anything ise to meditate on the excellent advice he unfair of the gallant captain, Captain Scal- has been so good as to give me, about it." pel, that he is hardly himself qualified to And the noble lord resumed his seat amid give me the excellent advice, about it, which uproarious cheering and general laughter, I received from him; for they tell me that wondering what had happened to put him he has rather run away, about it, from his in the vein, and regretting that some of the colours, on that occasion." (Great laughter people of Downing street had not been presand cheering). "I should be sorry to wound ent to hear it, and witness its effect. Captain Shat Scat Scrap, the gallant

From the Spectator 24 Aug.

THE SALZBURG TELEGRAMS.

THE "

enlighten the world, or official digests of the ideas Napoleon wishes to have believed, and intended to take the world in. The Havas Agency Continental for Reuter's Comlanguage of the two Emperors pany - being entirely under the control of Napoleon and Francis Joseph towards each the French Government, the latter supposiother," says the Moniteur, "has been most tion is by much the more probable, but affectionate, and their interviews have been either is sufficient to prove this. The Emof a peculiarly intimate and cordial nature." peror of the French intends to make the The views of the two Sovereigns as to the temporary division of Germany established Eastern question are said entirely to coin- by the Treaty of Prague a permanent basis cide." One of the chief objects of of his policy. Germany cannot be divided the understanding arrived at between the into three, as he ordered M. Rouher to say, two Emperors is to prevent South Germany it had been, but at least it shall be two, and from governing the North German Con- not one. He either thinks, or he desires federation." The Emperors intend to in-, the world to think, that he has won over vite the other Powers of Europe to join in an agreement, "the basis of which will be the maintenance of the Treaty of Prague." Such are the telegrams which have been whizzing like diplomatic bullets across Western Europe all the week, and which are either official digests of actual contracts between the two Sovereigns, intended to

Austria to his view, and it is, on the whole, possible, in defiance of antecedent probabilities, that he has won her. It is hardly probable that he would have ventured on such a series of inventions as these telegrams without basis sufficient to prevent a blank official denial. The Hapsburgs, moreover, are Spaniards of a good class that is the

ideas must clash with a clang that will reverberate throughout the world. And, looking to the disturbance the armed peace creates, the necessities of Napoleon, and the difficulty of restraining national enthusiasm both in Germany and in France, we can by no means believe that the interval, the moment of hushed breath, will be protracted. It is not the interest of Napoleon to protract it beyond the spring, and he can at any moment inquire why Prussia, bound by the Treaty of Prague, is fortifying May. ence with iron plates.

and unscrupulous Ministry-and Lord Stanley and Mr. Disraeli together combine a maximum of courage with a minimum of scruples-is England. The telegram may be a pure invention, in form it is certainly an absurdity, but it is a strange one to circulate just after the Empress Eugénie's visit, and with Napoleon's imprimatur. The mere rumour of such an alliance tends to make him strong; and Napoleon's strength just now is not a guarantee of peace.

From the Athenæum.

Taylor. (Low & Co.)

MR. BAYAD TAYLOR, known as a poet and journalist of high rank, is perhaps still better known as an adventurous traveller. In his salad days he traversed Europe on foot, and made the presence of his staff and knapsack familiar to thousands of readers. Since those early times he has described for us Egypt and Sicily, China and Palestine, Japan and Bulgaria. He has spent a couple of years among the wonders of California. He has tramped through Spain and a part of Africa. Blessed with good health and a powerful frame, he has dared the chills of Mont Blanc and the heats of the Dead Sea. Holding his pen with a light though a strong hand, he has made many places into pictures for those easy mortals who like to do their travelling in an arm-chair.

But England? We do not like the part assigned to England in this drama at all. There is not, indeed, the slightest probability that Queen Victoria will visit Paris as a sort of Empress of Britain, with Mr. Disraeli for Vizier, prepared to sign alliances, and take part in arrangements for Colorado: a Summer Trip. By Bayard remodelling Europe. That is not her Majesty's role in life, and the telegram which assumes that position for her throws some discredit over the remainder. But it must not be forgotten that the existing Ministry is by long prepossession Austrian, that Mr. Disraeli believes it the duty of Great Britain to be servile to Napoleon, that both the aristocratic parties have expressed their resolution time and again not to consent to an united Germany, and that the interest of Great Britain in the East is, on the whole, identical with that of Austria. She wants to keep Russia out, and so do the Hapsburgs. It is more than possible that England, if not asked for too much, might join such an alliance, might accept the Treaty of Prague as a new basis for the public life of Europe, might consider the independence and greatness of Austria indispensable to the independence and security of the East. That such a view would be fatal to our true interests, which command us to welcome Germany as a counterpoise to France, to hold our Eastern position by our own strength and not by alliances, and to see in the possession of Egypt full compensation for the expulsion of the Turks, is as little to the purpose as that it is our moral duty to support the nationalities. The Ministry are just as capable of miscalculating the chances of German consolidation as of American unity, quite as likely to believe Austria indispensable to Europe as to hold with Mr. Disraeli that the safety of England demands the independence of the Pope. It is hard to believe that the nation will, for the second time in six years, make the blunder of striving to prevent the growth of a nationality, but the Ministry may, and in foreign affairs a resolute

Last year this accomplished traveller left his prim and Quaker-like village in Pennsylvania for a trip to the Rocky Mountains. The journey was meant, we believe, for the Salt Lake; but was, unhappily, cut short, by failure of health and strength. at the eastern slope of the Elack Hills. Mr. Taylor crossed the Missouri two months earlier than the author of New America' The land was then quiet; for the Cheyennes had not been roused into fury by what they considered as the breach of public faith. Fear of the redskins was not absent from the adventurous party; but the trouble seemed afar off, and the caution which the neighbourhood of an Indian camp occasioned was rather a poetical and picturesque excitement than a daily and nightly terror. No stimulant, perhaps, in the world is more exhilarating than a scalping-knife; and it

need not be always moving close to the hair in order to produce a quickening effect on the brain. Mr. Taylor saw the redskins, as every traveller in the prairies must. He was not very pleasantly struck by them: “We met a number of Indians and squaws on horseback one of the latter in a pink dress and wearing a round hat with upright feather, and her hair in a net. A little further, we came upon a mounted band of twenty or thirty, all drunk. My driver showed a little uneasiness, but they drew aside to let us pass, and a few hoots and howls were all the salutation we received." He felt the presence of Cheyennes, Arappahoes, and Kiowas around him, as he bumped and banged along in the prairie wagon, not unpleasantly, we think, since a little spice of adventure is absolutely necessary to good health and good spirits under the monotony of such a trip.

the absence of wood is too general to be satisfactorily explained on this hypothesis. High bluffs, broad rivers, stretches of sand would offer their resistance to a body of rolling flame. Fire could hardly cross the Kansas and the Arkansas rivers, even with the help of different winds. In many parts of the prairies, the land has not been ravaged by fire for many years. The low brushwood is often very old - the wild sage probably forty or fifty years in certain places; yet for hundreds of square leagues not a high tree dots the landscape, which is not the less covered with this wild brush. Still there are places in which the land has seemingly been stript by fire of its natural forests a misfortune of the most tragic kind since, next to water, wood is the most necessary to man of all natural gifts; and we agree with Mr. Taylor in thinking that human care and culture will oppose very strong barriers to the further depredations of this terrible element.

Further inland we have this prairie picture: —

two, dark thunder-clouds collected. Out of one of these dropped a curtain of rain, gray in the centre, but of an intense indigo hue at the edges. It slowly passed us on the north, split, from one minute to another, by streaks of vivid rose-coloured lightning, followed by deafening detonating peals; when, just as we seemed to have escaped, it suddenly wheeled and burst upon us. It was like a white squall on a tropic

Those who have travelled with Mr. Bayard Taylor already know with what care he reproduces the landscape over which he drives. In these pages the prairies are made to live. We see the long swell of the rising upland over which the buffaloes roam, "Our route, for some distance, lay over an the dry sandy ravines in which the rattle-elevated plateau, around which, for an hour or snakes glide, the bunches of wild sage under which the wolf lurks and the prairie-hens cluck, the countless flecks of golden flowers, and the tender green of the sweet bunchgrass. We see in his pages the strong bullock-train, the emigrant's corral, the sunburned miner coming home from the mountains, the vicious party of road-agents. Here we meet the Jew pedler, the swarthy. ranchman, the daring trapper, each in his big boots and his slouch hat, and with his revolver and bowie-knife handy in his strong leathern belt. Under his hearty description we come to love this virgin country and these rough squatters and teamsters. Just after leaving the Missouri River, Mr. Taylor notes a fact which has in it a grain of comfort: "Here I first witnessed a phenomenon of which I had often heard, the spontaneous production of forests from prairie land. Hundreds of acres, which the cultivated fields beyond had protected against the annual inundation of fire, were completely covered with young oak and hickory trees, from four to six feet in height. In twenty years more these thickets will be forests." We are not sure that the theory of these prairies having been universally stript of their forests by fire has been proved. Fires are frequent on the great plain, and anything like timber which stood in the way of a running prairie flame would certainly perish in its fierce embrace. But

sea. We had not lowered the canvas curtains of the coach before a dam gave way over our heads, and a torrent of mingled wind, rain, hail, and thunder overwhelmed. us. The driver turned his mules as far as possible away from the wind, and stopped; the coach rocked and reeled as if about to overturn; the hail smote like volleys of musketry; and in less than fifteen minutes the whole plain lay four inches under water. I have never witnessed anything even approaching the violence of this storm; it lives. The bullets of hail were nearly as large was a marvel that the mules escaped with their around us like a succession of Bengal fires. We as pigeons' eggs, and the lightning played laid the rifles in the bottom of the coach, and for half an hour sat in silence, holding down the curtain, and expecting every moment to be overturned. Then the tornado suddenly took breath, commenced again twice or thrice, and ceased as unexpectedly as it came. For a short time the road was a swift stream, and the tufts of buffalo-grass rose out of an inundated plain; journey was not delayed, as we had cause to fear. Presently Mr. Scott descries a huge rattlesnake, and we stop the coach and jump out. The rattles were too wet to give any sound, and

but the water soon found its level, and our