and impassioned, are, if rightly interpreted, alike fraught with benefit to the head and heart.

Latin Poems, whose ode on May Day struck me as being nearly, if not quite, equal to Horace's Blandusian Fount; and his drama of Jeptha as superior to any of Seneca's tragedies, not excepting even his Medea. Here, too, I met with Jortin's Elegy on a young lady, to whom he was attached, from which I am tempted to quote two lines as exhibiting, in my opinion, a truly Ovidian fancy, and graceful freedom of versification :

"Te sequar, obscurum per iter dux ibit eunti,

Fidus Amor, tenebras lampade discutiens."

In this library, too, I picked up a volume of old Latimer's quaint sermons, which contain some of the most humorous and entertaining passages in the language; and got through heaven knows how many tragedies and comedies of the Elizabethan age, which, despite the numerous violations of probability in their characters and incidents, rivet attention by the freshness and vigour of the teeming fancy that pervades them. To the hours thus spent in still communion with these intelligent spirits, I shall ever look back with satisfaction. What an illustrious assembly they were! Even the court of the Imperial Augustus never boasted such a host of mighty geniuses as stood round me on the shelves of this library. There were royalist and republican Protestant and Catholic-poet and critic-historian and novelist-ranged peaceably side by side. The pride, the jealousy, the party heats and religious differences, that had kept many of them apart when living, were here at an end. All dwelt in good fellowship together; and each-after his own peculiar fashion-did his best to enlighten and amuse. The grave has but one voice; but a spirit of many tones speaks from the haunted walls of the library, in accents which, whether mirthful and familiar, or solemn

One evening, after a late tea, while lounging over an odd volume of the Elizabethan dramatists, I chanced to light upon some extracts from the tragedy of Thyestes, written, if I remember rightly, by Crowne, towards the close of the seventeenth century; and was so much struck by the rude energy of some of the scenes, especially that tremendous one wherein Atreus invites his brother Thyestes to a banquet, and places before his unconscious guest the mangled limbs of his son, that-despite the character of the incident, which militates against every principle of good taste-I could not dismiss it from my thoughts, but remained under the influence of " the enchanter's wand," long after I had closed the volume. At last I heard the clock strike midnight, and rising from my chair, I took a few hurried turns up and down the library, with a view to restore my mind to its usual composure; but finding that my efforts were unavailing, and that the scene with all its ghastly horrors still haunted my imagination, I unbarred the door at the extremity of the apartment, which opened upon the lawn, and the night being serene and starry, strolled about for nearly an hour; after which, feeling rather chilly, and in far too excited a mood for sleep, I retired to my accustomed haunt, the Picture Gallery, where-by way of giving a more cheerful turn to my thoughts-I had recourse to my old amusement of illustration. The painting which I selected for this purpose, was a view of Margate from the sea, which hung directly opposite the Gallery door. The old butler had already drawn my attention to it, as being a great favourite with his master; and well it deserved his good opinion, for it evinced much of the truth and spirit of Ruysdael, of whose manner, it struck me as being a most felicitous

imitation. On the hint furnished by this clever picture, I engrafted the following tale, which I had heard the previous summer from the lips of one of the captains of the Margate steam

boats, who told it with exceeding unction, just as it had been related to him by one of the parties concerned -a respectable tradesman of Hounsditch.

St Paul's was on the stroke of nine, and the Margate steam-boat was just about to start from London bridge wharf, which presented as it usually does on summer and autumn mornings a bustling and motley spectacle. Slouching, broad-shouldered porters, with their badges of office tied about their necks, kept momently rolling on towards the vessel, bearing down all before them, like huge ships of the line, and followed close by the passengers whose luggage they were carry. ing; policemen stood about the quay, looking as sharp as razors and inexorable as destiny, while two of their fraternity added considerably to the picturesque of the scene by collaring a pickpocket, who had been pursuing his vocation under the pretence of selling the morning papers. Here, a splenetic cabman or two were busy in altercation with their respective fares; and there, a group of dilapidated nondescripts stood in every one's way on the steps of the landing-place, whistling flash tunes, and making quaint comments on the vessel and her crew. At last the church clock struck nine, and the eyes of all the loungers on the wharf were directed towards the captain of the steamer, who, having ascended the paddle-box, and taken a few brisk turns along the elevated railed plank which stretched across the boat, and served him for a quarterdeck, was just about to issue the order to "let go the stern-rope," when, suddenly, a smart, fair-faced young man, of about five-and-twenty or thirty years of age, dressed in white trowsers, tightly strapped down over boots polished to a miracle, blue coat, beaming in all the beauty of brass buttons, bran new silk hat, and light fancy waistcoat, from which depended a massive bunch of seals, rushed in an awful state of perspiration down the steps, bearing a well filled carpet-bag in his hand. An instant longer, and he had been too late; but luck was in his fa

vour, for, by some singular oversight, the plank connecting the vessel with the shore had not yet been withdrawn ; seeing which, the young man elbowed his way desperately through the crowd of idlers that thronged the water's edge, and managed to scramble on board just at the very moment when the boat, having slipped her moorings, moved off into the stream, raising a swell in her wake that set a grim, sulky-looking coal-barge, capering as if she had got the St Vitus's dance.

The deck of a Margate steamer exhibits a scene of infinite bustle and confusion at the commencement of her voyage, for the passengers are all on the qui vive, some settling the position of their luggage, others hurrying down to breakfast, and others, who have children consigned to their care, keeping a sharp watch on their every movement, it not being safe to give them unrestricted liberty in the first impulse of their delight and wonderment. The last comer whom I have just described -Mr Giles Puddicombe, a respectable oilman in the Minories-was one of the most bustling of the crew; but after he had twice seen to the safety of his carpet-bag, which he had stowed away by itself in one of the nooks near the paddle-box, popped his head into every cabin, made a hurried tour of the deck, and taken his last fond look at the gilt top of the monument, he quietly dropped into a seat in the centre of the vessel, alongside a family circle, consisting of a hale, fresh-coloured, elderly man, his wife, two children, and a maid-servant, with the first of whom he speedily got into conversation. After some preliminary commonplaces about the fineness of the day, the stranger said, "Astonishing deal of shipping in this pool, sir."

"Wonderful!" replied Mr Giles Puddicombe, with earnestness. "Ever down the river before, sir?" "Never; it is my first voyage." "Indeed! Me and Mrs H., and

the young 'uns, regularly go once a year when business is".

"You're in trade, then, I prc. sume?" observed Puddicombe.

The stranger answered in the affirmative; adding, with much self-complacency, that all the world knew old Tom Hicks of Hounsditch, for he had carried on business there as a grocer "a matter of five-and-twenty year," and his father, before him, nearly as many.

"Hounsditch!" exclaimed Giles; "why then, you are a neighbour of mine, as one may say." And invited to confidence by his companion's frank and off-hand manner, he forthwith proceeded to mention his own name, address, calling, and so forth, and also how he had come out to enjoy a week of pleasure at Margate, having heard a good deal of the attractions of that select watering-place, and being anxious to see a little more of the world than could be seen behind a counter in the Minories, or in the course of a Sunday trip to Richmond or Greenwich.

"A week's pleasuring is no bad thing," said Mr Hicks, who had listened attentively to this prolix communication," provided, always, it don't interfere with business."

"Oh, in course; I take good care of that," rejoined Giles, with emphatic earnestness; "never neglect business for pleasure, is my maxim."

"And a very excellent maxim it is, and one that does you credit, Mr Puddicombe, sir. The Minories is not far off Hounsditch; I hope we shall be acquaintances as well as neigh

bours."

"It won't be my fault if we ain't," exclaimed Giles, gratified by this unexpected compliment.

"You must call and see us at Margate, sir; you'll find us plain, oldfashioned folks, but always glad to. ah, there's the Dreadnought! A noble vessel, that," added the grocer, directing his companion's attention to the old hospital ship, which they were just then passing; "served under the immortal Nelson at Trafalgar. I never see her but I feel proud, as George the Third said in his first speech from the throne, that I was born and eddicated a Briton. By the bye, I'll tell you a good anecdote about the Dreadnought, which was told me by Captain Tough of the Red Rover."

"Ay, do, my love," interposed Mrs Hicks; I'm sure the gentleman will like to hear it, you tell it with such uncommon"

Her husband was just about to commence his anecdote, when he was interrupted on the very threshold by a sort of choking sound near him; and turning hastily round, he saw one of his children striving desperately to swallow a huge lump of seedcake, which had stuck half-way in his throat, and the maid-servant slapping him energetically on the back, in order to assist his efforts.

"Drat that boy," said his father, when the cause of danger was removed, "he's always stuffing and cramming. Do, pray, Mrs H., take the cake away from him; it's now ten o'clock, and he's been eating ever since

The vessel had by this time reached Blackwall, when Mr Hicks, who had completely forgotten the old Dreadnought, after looking about him for some minutes, grasped Giles by the arm, and pointing to a bull-necked, Dutch-built personage, who was standing alone near the steersman, eyeing, with great apparent interest, a spacious isolated building which stood close to the river's edge, said, "Do you see that gentleman?"

"Yes; who is he?"

The grocer paused an instant, as if to give greater effect to his reply; and then, putting on an air of grave dignity proportioned to the importance of his communication, ejaculated, in a thrilling under-tone, "That-that is Alderman Maggs!"

It was indeed that illustrious city magnate, who, with spectacles on nose, and arms folded across his chest, was gazing at Lovegrove's hotel, so celebrated for its white-bait dinners! From the pensive and abstracted expression of his fine countenance, it was evident that his thoughts were wandering back to the past; that he was feasting again, in imagination, on the many delicious viands which he had embowelled beneath that classic roofin a word, cultivating the "pleasures of memory!" Giles, as was natural, regarded him with respect bordering on veneration; whereupon his companion, whose hobby it was to know something of every thing and every body, entered into various biographical particulars respecting the alder

man, to which Puddicombe listened with such pleased attention, as quite won the old grocer's heart.

When they came to Gravesend, Mr Hicks was loud in his praises of Tilbury Fort." Celebrated place that, sir, in its day ;-monstrous strong, too; would batter down Gravesend before you could say Jack Robinson." "It does not look so very strong," observed Giles.

"Look! what matters looks? Why, I'm past fifty, and all my friends say I don't look forty. I never trust looks -suffered too much by 'em. A woman came into my shop one day, and did me out of a pound's worth of groceries, solely on the strength of her looks." "Bless me, you don't say so!" "Fact; so, ever since, I've made it a matter of business never to mind looks. Handsome is as handsome does. But we were speaking of Tilbury Fort. I can tell you a capital anecdote about that fort, which I remember reading when I was a boy not bigger than Tom," pointing to his son. "Queen Elizabeth was dining there one day off a goose and trimmings, when suddenly news was brought that the Spanish Armada had just been defeated at sea. What, already!' exclaimed her Majesty, laying down her knife and fork, and looking at the messenger as if she thought he was hoaxing her. Yes,' replies my gentleman, there's no more doubt of the wictory than that you're sitting in that arm-chair.'—'Well, I'm damned,' said Queen Elizabeth-for she had a devil of a spirit, and didn't mind an oath now and then; indeed, all the quality swore in those days, 'specially on great state occasions;- I'm damned,' said she, slapping down her fist on the table, if this ain't the best news-and no mistake—I've heard since I've been Queen of England! What's the day of the month?'The twenty-ninth of September,' said one of the lords who was standing behind her chair. Very good,' replied her Majesty; then write off instantly to the Lord Mayor and all the official authorities, and tell 'em it's my royal will and pleasure that this twentyninth of September be henceforth and for ever held as a grand feast day throughout the kingdom'-which was done accordingly; and that's the origin of the present custom of eating roast goose and apple sauce on Mi

chaelmas day. Very extraordinary anecdote, isn't it?"

"Very," replied Giles, "supposing it to be true."

"True! It must be true, else why do we eat goose more on that particu lar day in the year than any other?— But I hear the dinner-bell. Come along, Mrs H,—come along, children. Mr Puddicombe, you'll join us, I suppose?"-and so saying, the old fellow made his way into the cabin, and took up a position opposite a gigantic_sirloin, worthy to have been served up at the table of the King of Brobdignag. When the meal was over, the children were sent up stairs with the maid-servant, and the seniors busied themselves in the discussion of some cold brandy and water, in which Giles assisted; but, feeling the heat of the cabin become somewhat oppressive, he soon quitted them, and returned to the deck, where he occupied himself for some minutes with watching the movements of the waiters, who were hurrying about in all directions, some with sandwiches piled, four deep, on large blue plates, others with biscuits and bottled porter, and others with cold fowls, tongues, hams, and all the paraphernalia of lunch, for the use of those among the passengers whose innate sense of gentility induced them to prefer a late dinner to an early one.

Near Giles stood a slim, sallow young man, with jet-black hair hanging picturesquely about his temples and down his neck, who had been taken up, together with his carpet-bag, at Gravesend. He was leaning, apart from the rest of the crew, against one of the paddle-boxes, with his arms dangling listlessly by his side, and his eyes bent upon the sea. Something there was in his appearance that attracted Puddicombe's notice, who, after a few moments' hesitation, went up and entered into conversation with him.

"We're fortunate in our day, sir," he began.

"Singularly so," exclaimed the Unknown, starting abruptly from his reverie, and fixing a keen roving black eye on the speaker.

"The sea's a pretty sight," continued Giles, "leastways when it's as smooth as it is now."

"True," rejoined the stranger; "but I, sir, prefer seeing it convulsed by storm and tempest, when the billows run mountain high, and the winds

shriek like-like-a man having a double tooth out. Then, sir, is the time to behold old Ocean in his glory;" and the speaker looked at Puddicombe with an expression of countenance that seemed to imply, There's a description for you!

"But the sea's rather dangerous then, I should conceive," observed my hero.

"Danger! Who thinks of danger when contemplating such a sublime spectacle?"

"Those are just my sentiments," 'pursued Giles, with a laudable anxiety to be thought a man of taste and gentlemanlike ideas; "I was always fond of sight-seeing."

"I am proud to find we agree on this point," rejoined the Unknown ; and then launched into a variety of other topics, on which he conversed with much emphasis and volubility, occasionally seasoning his talk with quaint scraps from Shakspeare and other dramatists, to his hearer's exceeding delight and edification, who, having but a limited knowledge of the world beyond the Minories, began to fancy that his companion was a person of superior breeding and scholarship. "There seem to be lots of respectable people on board," he observed.

"Probably so," replied the stranger; "but I never trouble my head about such things. I always make it a point, in travelling, to keep myself to my. self."

The air of dignified hauteur with which this was said confirmed Puddicombe in his opinion of the Unknown's gentility; and he replied, with modest. deference, "You are in the right to be cautious, sir, for one never knows who one's talking to;"-and as he spoke he cast a keen rapid glance towards the spot where his carpet-bag was deposited.

"And yet, sometimes," continued the stranger, whose quick eye follow ed the direction of Puddicombe's "sometimes I take a fancy at first sight;"-and he bowed significantly to Giles, with all the impressive grace of a prince in a Coburg melodrama."Do you make any stay at Margate?" he added.

"No," said Giles; "I am merely going there for a week's pleasuring, and expect to spend a very delightful time, especially as it is quite a novelty

to me."

"Then take my advice, sir, and be cautious with whom you associate; for Margate, at this period of the year, is always full of sharpers, who make a point of preying on the unwary ;"— and, with these words, the stranger adjusted his side-curls, whistled a few notes of a flash air, and strolled off to the head of the steam-boat.

Immediately afterwards, Giles was rejoined by Mr and Mrs Hicks, the former of whom exhibited a red nose quite pleasant and becoming to look at, and which showed how well the brandy and water had agreed with him." Whereabouts are we now?" said he, thrusting his hands into his waistcoat-pockets; "long past the Nore, I take it.'

"Oh, yes!" exclaimed his wife; "we're close to the Reculvers; see, there they are;"-and she pointed her dumpy fore-finger towards them.

"Then we shall be at Margate in less than no time.-Mrs H., where's the children?"

The question was superfluous, as was proved by an indignant exclamation of the maid-servant, of "Fie, for shame, Master Tom! As sure as you're born, I'll tell your pa,"-which was called forth by the conduct of one of the engaging striplings, who was assisting his brother to pelt the man in the engine-room with marbles.

"Confound that lad,” said his father, "he's always in mischief; it was but the other day that he blew his self up with gunpowder; and now, damme, if he isn't making a cock-shy of the stoker!"

"My God, if he havn't pitched head-foremost into the engine-room!" exclaimed the affrighted mother, and, accompanied by her husband and Giles, rushed off to the spot, whence the youngest of her sons had just disappeared. Luckily, no damage was sustained, for the man below caught the boy in his arms before he had fully accomplished his descent, and restored him to his agitated parents, one of whom sobbed over him for full five minutes, and the other promised him a "precious larruping" the instant he reached Margate.

When the alarm occasioned by this little incident had subsided, a choleric dialogue took place between the old folks and the maid-servant, on the subject of the latter's "scandalous negligence," which, after divers saucy