companied and provisioned as usual; and his unpretending turn-out was seen making its way down Sackville-street among a crowd of splendid equipages, while Hogg, his helpmate, and his man expressed their opinions on all they saw with a simplicity that elicited peals of laughter from persons who occasionally overheard their remarks.

But though the journey had been thus fortunately accomplished, the dangerous portion of the expedition remained to be achieved. The travellers had esteemed themselves "wise in their generation" in coming provisioned, as if the capital had been declared in a state of blockade; but, unhappily, where they should bestow themselves on their arrival had hitherto never cost a thought, and only on entering the city did that thought at last obtrude. As they proceeded, obscure hotels and houses of refreshment, under divers appellations, were tried in vain; and more than once, from the general appearance of the party, the inquiry was supposed an excuse for sinister purposes to gain admission to the hall, and it was plainly hinted that any subsequent attempt at entry should ensure the moderator and his establishment a month's residence on the treadmill, and not cost any of them a sixpence.

por

Matters now looked gloomy; and, as evening was falling fast, Hogg made a stop at Gresham's. This essay was also unsuccessful; but Robin was neither threatened with the treadmill, nor did the ter call the police. A group of young gentlemen were standing on the broad step, and one entering freely into conversation with the minister of Cockle Hill, learned the purport of his visit.

"And so you are one of a deputation with an address?" he inquired. Pray, is that good-looking lady and yonder gentleman of the same party?"

Mrs. Hogg blushed like a peony.

"That woman," replied Hogg, "is my wife;" and he added her maiden name for the stranger's satisfaction; " and the boy* is my servant John."

"Nothing, sir, could be more fortunate than my accidentally discovering who you are. You will please to remark yonder house," and he pointed to Bilton's. "That house is set apart for members of the deputations. The front drawing-room with a bed-chamber behind it are fortunately disengaged; and if the noise in the street would not discommode the lady, she will have the best windows in Dublin from which to view the king's entrée to-morrow."

"Bless your heart!" responded Mrs. Hogg from the car, my head 's down, the world is no trouble to me."

" once

"And as to me," rejoined the astronomer, "provided the charges

are moderate, I don't mind noise a brass button."

66

Why," said the stranger, "at these times lodgings are of course high. For your apartments, fire and lights included, they will expect probably three-and-sixpence a day."

"Never cobble, Robin dear," interposed the lady from the car. "We have our own provisions with us," observed Mr. Hogg. "And all we would want would be a saucepan of potatoes," rejoined the lady.

"Your foresight has been truly fortunate," continued the stranger. "Coals are not to be had at any price, and the cooks have en

* In Ireland synonymous with servant.

tered into a combination: but you, madam, are independent of cooks and coals. When you arrive at the door," continued this kind adviser, "you will find it crowded with idlers: answer no questions, but remove your luggage into the hall; and if the lady would just run up-stairs and secure the apartments at once, it would be all the better."

They separated; and when the astronomer rolled off with his household, the party on Gresham's step burst out into a roar of laughter, and though dinner was announced as ready, they strolled down the street to witness the result of Hogg's attempt on Bilton's.

It was promptly made, and soon over. To reach the scene of action required but the crossing of the street; and in their transit he of Cockle Hill congratulated his helpmate on their good fortune,— who, in return, blessed God that "if the lodgings were dear, the situation was excellent, and they should have at least 'gape-seed' for their money."

The hotel was full from the slates to the cellar, the street before the door crowded with porters, and the outer hall filled with grooms and livery-servants. Never did honest Robin gaze more rapturously on a newly-discovered star than on the name of Bilton, as he read it emblazoned above the porch; while his lady pointed out the front drawing-room to the attendant, and intimated that she should occupy the centre window on the morrow, and thence witness, "proclaimed by trump and drum," the advent of the British king.

The car stopped; none of the porter tribe deigned to notice it. Hogg seized on an old hair-trunk, now nearly bald from age and hard usage, in which the personal effects of the triumvirate (as an Irishman would term it) were combined. John shouldered the hamper ; while madame, not oblivious of the gentle stranger's admonition, dashed stoutly past groom and lackey, and, like a leader to a breach, boldly ascended the staircase. None opposed; for none dreamed that a forcible possession was in progress. Alas! like the field of Waterloo, a momentary success in the opening operations only rendered the ultimate discomfiture the more signal!

It may be here proper to observe, that Mrs. Hogg was two feet taller than that height which it has pleased Canova to assign to his celebrated Venus; neither did she boast the roundness of formation with which poets usually depict the favourite cupbearer of the thunderer. She was a thrifty housewife; she travelled as prudent travellers should; and her best garments were consequently deposited in the hairy trunk, and in the safe custody of the astronomer. Anything," she said, was good enough for the road;" and hence her costume was neither in cut nor colour in strict accordance with the latest of Ackermann's designs. Flushed with the exercise of the day, and conscious that to her had been intrusted the most decisive part of the combined movements, there was a lofty character in bearing and countenance that might either indicate heroism or insanity. Alas!—as the result will prove, the latter construction was unhappily bestowed upon it.

Safely and unchallenged she reached the landing-place, and the door of the "great chamber" was before her. Voices were heard within, and of course the room was occupied. But a moment's consideration persuaded Mrs. Hogg that these revellers were but transitory guests-wayfarers indulging in a hurried lunch, and she determined to notify her arrival to them in person, and intimate to these interlopers" that "the real Simon Pure" was below.

Now it unfortunately happened that the families of C and H-had located themselves in that suite of apartments which Bilton's first-floor embraced, and at this moment some dozen of "the noblest of the land" occupied the identical drawing-room which Mrs. Hogg had selected for her especial accommodation. Dinner was over; the dessert upon the table; the servants withdrawn ; and, thus favoured by accidental circumstances, the lady of Cockle Hill found herself in undisputed possession of the outworks,-namely, the landing-place. The noble earl and his "fair companie" had drunk an enthusiastic welcome to the Majesty of England; but, scarce had they drained their" draughts of Rhenish down," when the door opened, and in stepped Mrs. Hogg,-not, as they say in Connaught, with a "God save all here!"-but a countenance on which a "notice to quit" seemed luminously impressed!

Great was the astonishment of all parties, and the present possessors and new claimaint appeared equally surprised. The astronomer's lady was astounded on discovering the splendid circle into which she had ushered herself without the form of an introduction; while, considering her a maniac who, in the hurry of the royal visit, had eluded her keepers and escaped from an asylum, the ladies testified their dismay by a wild scream, and the gentlemen with "turn her outs!" The bell rang its "loud alarum," and, attracted by the uproar, a score of menials rushed to the rescue of their lords. Hurried as her advance had been, the descent of the moderator's helpmate was infinitely more rapid; and when she reached the hall, she had the satisfaction of witnessing the honest astronomer ejected from the door with an increased velocity from a momentum administered by a lacquey's foot; the hairy trunk and basket bundled after him; John in the custody of the police, and already some steps "en route" to the house of correction; a tattered mob hallooing below; and, bitterer still, a titled one enjoying this desperate discomfiture-and from the very windows which, five minutes since, in the pride of her heart, she had fondly called her own."

But the darkest hour of his evil planet was over, and a deliverer at hand. A passing Samaritan fancied that he recognised the philosopher, as, with the velocity of a shooting-star, he crossed the footway. He looked again; the face was Robin's, and confirmation strong-the silver buckles were identified. To rescue John from durance, replace trunk and hamper, remount Mrs. Hogg, and extricate the persecuted group from "the common cry of curs," was speedily effected. Once more the astronomer's vehicle was in motion. "The world was all before them where to choose ;" and, after “an awful trial,”—as Robin called it,-they obtained a back chamber" two pair up" in Pill-lane, and "rested from their labours."

The year in which Hogg was moderator turned out a season of no common importance. The address to the royal visitor was succeeded by a general convocation of the clergy. Heterodoxy had been creeping into the church, and at a meeting of the synod both its causes and cure were to be considered by that reverend body. Robin had two infirmities that were incurable,-drowsiness, and a dread of thunder. It happened, on the eventful day when Arianism was imputed and denied, that one of the most gifted of the ministry was addressing the crowded meeting. All listened in deep attention except the worthy moderator, who sate in the pulpit rocking himself

to and fro, and pronouncing with a monotonous cadence, “Order! order!" Annoyed at an interruption so ill-timed and unnecessary, the orator stopped suddenly, and requested to know who it was whom the moderator thought disorderly. "Hoot, man!" responded Hogg, "nobody's disorderly at all; but if you don't let me say Order! order!' I'll surely fall asleep."

The business proceeded; but Robin was not destined to witness the termination of the discussion. A dark cloud collected, and the astronomer evinced symptoms of uneasiness. Presently a flash of lightning crossed the windows, succeeded by a peal of thunder. Up sprang the moderator, and, bounding down the pulpit steps, malgré all attempts to arrest his flight, he fled from the assembly, and ran at speed to the inn. To proceed without the controlling member of the synod was irregular, and two or three of the ministers and elders were despatched to bring back the refugee. They discovered him ensconced in the cellar; but no inducement or remonstrance could coax him from his den.

"What!" said one of the deputation, "would you desert the pulpit, Brother Hogg, while the great Arian question is debated?"

"I tell you what, Brother Gowdy," replied the astronomer from behind a beer-cask, "if Arius were on one side, and Arminius on the other, I won't quit this cellar till the thunder is over!"

In Robin's death a curious coincidence might be traced to.what he termed "his earliest misfortune." The demolition of Miss M'Cullagh's goose produced an eviction from her mansion; and, indubitably, the same unlucky bird shortened his mortal span. He was recovering slowly from severe indisposition when an unlucky cook tempted him to eat stewed giblets at his supper! These an ostrich might have digested; but they proved too much for an astronomer, and honest Robin died a martyr to geese gizzards and dyspepsia.

He lies in Cockle Hill; the same slab covers himself, his helpmate, and his man John; and the grave, "that leveller of rank," did not separate a worthy triad, who wended life's journey in company, and, like contented travellers, wisely took the rough and smooth just as Heaven sent them.

June 1, 1837.

CONCERT EXTRAORDINARY,

During the conflagration of the Royal Exchange, on the 10th of January, 1838.

THE men of Braidwood's fire-brigade,

In water to their middles,

With skill and great precision play'd

On Arthur Betts's fiddles.

J. S.

Mr. Betts's Musical Instrument Warehouse under the North Piazza was one

of the earliest victims to the flames.