addressing you is not to take advantage of your widely circulated paper, for the purpose of a puff to waft my invention into celebrity, but to intimate my intention of presenting you, for the use of your readers, with the first, strongest, and best Punnifer furnished by my contractors. Nov. 14, 1831. P. R. PRECOCITY. LA FONTAINE, in one of his letters to Racine, dated Chateau-Thierry, the 6th June, 1686, after offering to his friend and correspondent the very poet-like excuse of laziness for having maintained a long silence, proceeds thus: "The day after my arrival here, I received a letter and a couplet from the pen of a girl aged eight years. I have replied; and that has been my principal occupation since I came." Voici donc le couplet, avec le billet que l'accompagnoit, and let the reader henceforth cease to marvel at the precocious developement of Byron's amative bumps, or at Pope's infant lispings. When I would a song indite To the matchless La Fontaine, I can nought produce aright Even now 'tis trembling all Is it matter of surprise? Weak must be my wit and small, Doubtless, in his eyes. Now for the billet. The baby-poetess will be found a powerful prose writer: "I really believe, sir," she proceeds to say, "that I should never have had the courage to pen a song for you, unless with a view of drawing one out of you in return. You have promised as much, and you have to do with a person quite alive to her interests. Fancy that I am going to assassinate you until you have kept your word; and, for pity's sake, sir, do not neglect a feeble muse that may yet come to something, would you but cast a favourable eye upon it." "These lines and the letter," continues La Fontaine, "if my information from Paris be correct, did not cost half-an-hour's labour to the damsel; besides, she sometimes puts love in her verses, without knowing what love means." We subjoin his reply, and remit the whole affair to the "Court of Decorum," especially desirous of having the two issues tried: First, Whether Miss, said to be eight years of age and no more, was not in reality a dumpy creature of fifteen? second, Whether La Fontaine, albeit a Frenchman, had any right to say, as he does, that Pauline might "throw down the sampler and take up the woman" at eleven years of age? Pauline, you write most prettily Whene'er the heart has felt its throb, Live three years more then, young Pauline, Sometimes, Pauline, you speak of Love, A faithful thrall unto him. To you, the language of a sigh When three more summers have gone by, This is the first Letter we have yet received in answer to our advertisement for a Punster, and it clearly renders it vain for any other to apply. It strikes us that our correspondent has fired off a double-barrel upon us. The poetical applicants are more numerous, and shall be considered next week-Ed. Lit. Jour. London, 9th November, 1831. MY DEAR SIR,-Fra Diavolo has at length appeared, and its performance has, as I anticipated, been crowned with brilliant success. Indeed, it is the opinion of the oldest opera-goers here, that the style in which the whole thing has been done, is not surpassed by the very best performances of bygone years. The opera was fully rehearsed daily the ten days before its production, by which means there has been attained a smoothness and accuracy which remind one considerably of the grand opera in Paris. The vocalists, too, are one and all of them delighted with their parts; indeed, so much were they enamoured of the manner in which the music went on the first evening, that, as an eyewitness informs me, far from requiring the call-boy, they were ready at their points of entrance long ere their time. Such a measure of enthusiasm, in a body not generally much of one mind, is enough to secure the success of any composition. Might its operation not be attributable to the fact, that each of the principal characters is of equal importance? there being no prominence in any part, so that the feeling engendered is, instead of the usual one-envy, pure emulation or rivalry. I have carefully spoken of the entire success of performance; would that I could have said so much of the attendance! The wretched menagerie of Drury Lane seems to have absorbed the small portion of sense enjoyed by a London audience. They now, it seems, prefer the roar, and a paltry one it is, of the lion to the voice of Braham, and get into ecstasies with the evolutions of a set of bare-bottomed monkeys, rather than derive real amusement from the legitimate and clever buffo performance of G. Penson. Miss E. Romer has improved very much since her only appearance last season. Then I despaired of her, because, although possessed of a fine-toned voice, she never sung in tune; now this defect has been remedied, and Miss Inverarity has at length got a rival worthy of emulation. Braham sings gloriously; and acts with considerable effect. A gentleman who saw the real Fra Diavolo executed, tells me that Braham's figure is precisely similar to his, but his countenance is deficient in that expression of dark daring, combined with the glance of an eye which rendered him at once so terrible and so fascinating. Otherwise, Braham was all that could be wished. Wilson is on the march of improvement: every successive character shows this in a gratifying mannerhe performs with great spirit and vigour. Penson and Miss Cawse are the very pink of a noble fop and a fine lady; the former is inimitable, both in singing and acting. In short, all are deserving of praise. Nor must I omit the orchestra, which, though small for the size of the house, is remarkably effective. Rophino Lacy is the adapter of this opera, and much cause has he for self-gratulation. "Le Philtre, or the Love Charm," has proved, as I told you it would, a failure. But the house fills at half price for the beasts, and the music and ineffable dialogue are received by the audience open-mouthedyawning. Spohr's "Alchymist" is in preparation here on a great scale, and I shall be delighted if it prove a hit, for I am a vast Spohrite, and could not bear the idea of any of his music failing. At the same time, I am bound to state, that this opera enjoys but little con tinental celebrity, which it must be admitted is the true test of excellence. The Germans will endure indifferent literary merit, if the music be good. But I hope the best; for the vocal as well as instrumental strength at Drury Lane are great. : For the songs, There is a national work in preparation here, by Mr Chappell of Bond Street, in which I am anxious to interest your readers. It is entitled "Historical Ballads," which are meant to embrace the most striking incidents in the histories of the United Kingdom, arranged so as to convey instruction as well as amusement. The instructive part is a concise account of a particular incident in the reign of one of our monarchs; and the entertaining part is the song founded on this incident, and wedded to music. The plan is, I think, excellent it has been entered upon with great eagerness by poets and musicians, who are natives of the respective countries; and the volume comprising England is already announced for December-the poetry by Planché-the music by Bishop. When I see the work, you shall have a notice of it. England and Ireland are well supplied with artists of both descriptions, and one can be under no apprehension as to them; but, God help us! where are our musicians? Poets we have in abundance, of every calibre; but where are our musicians? Mr Chappell must either naturalize some imaginative Irishman-no-Englishman-there are too many of the former species among us already; for we are but scantily off in this respect. Sir Walter Scott was first applied to; but circumstances obliged him to decline. Campbell is now at work; and Allan Cunningham has thrown his capacious soul into the task; so that the silver chord on which the musical pearls are to be strung will soon be woven. The source of the pearls is as yet unknown. For the honour of Scotland, I trust they shall not be wanting. Lest your readers should imagine that the compositions are to be confined, according to the title, merely to Ballads, it is right to state that no such monotony of interest is intended. Though unlike the German Ballad, it gives scope to the musical writer as far as four verses, at the very most, will allow,-oftener three-to make the composition either a single song, or a glee of the whole, whilst the simplest species of air will have due attention. Mr Monck Mason is still abroad making engagements with singers of first-rate ability. Nay, he is actually in treaty with the once celebrated Sontag (now Countess Rossi); and it is said that the bait is so luring, the fair one, with full consent of her husband, will swallow it. The purse of a foreign Count is never so well lined as to be unable to hold more; and the pride of a foreign Count, though blustering, is, after all, but that of the cobbler's dog, when he took the wall of his master. Count Rossi will not refuse a bone such as Mason has thrown to him; we may, therefore, count upon the reappearance of Sontag, which I shall hail with more sincere delight than the debut of any other singer whatsoever, because she is the only lady now equal to the arduous task of singing Mozart's her native music-and every one now knows that the German school is for a while to supersede the present flimsy Italian. Mr Wade is in full career behind the curtain with rehearsals of Idomineo, with which the season opens. His perseverance and enthusiasm, as well as his ability for the duty, inspire me with all confidence, and I shall not be surprised if the next season here in the Italian opera-house shall eclipse every previous effort of the kind in England. The following stanzas are from Barry Cornwall's fertile pen: MIDNIGHT RHYMES. Oh! 'tis merry when stars are bright, To sing (as you pace along) Of the things that are dreamt by night, To the motion of some old song. For the fancy of mortals teems Oh! merry are Christmas times, But the merriest things that a man e'er sings, "'Tis night, when the usurers feel That their money is thrice repaid; 'Tis night, when adorers kneel By scores to the sleeping maid. So merry are Christmas times, &c. The boy on the raging deep Laughs out that the skies are clear, And the murderer turns in sleep, And dreams that a pardon is near. Yet merry are Christmas times, &c. At night, all wrongs are right, And all perils of life grow smooth, Ah! 'tis pity so sweet a tune Should ever be jarr'd by pain. Still merry are Christmas times, &c. beautiful composition, simple and captivating. The first Upon these the Chevalier Neukomm has reared a part is in 6-8 time, and the burden is in 2-4, exceedingly lively and elegant. The vocal portion is within the power of any voice; and the accompaniment is, on the here. I have many yet in reserve; of course I shall only, whole, easy of performance. It is universally admired as I now do, select the best. EDINBURGH DRAMA. T. THE revival of the "Tableaux Vivans" is the principal novelty since we last turned our face theatre-wards. They are by no means so good as last year's. In the first place, the Theatre is not sufficiently darkened. In the second place, the "Tableaux" themselves are more glaring and vulgar. We can never forget the effect produced upon us the first evening that Murray ventured this new species of amusement. The darkness of the Theatre, and the solemn music, wound us up to an inexpressible pitch of expectation. And, when the dark curtain within the frame drew up, the grouping of the figures, and the light diffused upon them, heightened our excited feelings. There was Juliet in the mellow moonlight-Macbeth, scarce seen emerging from the baleful mists that wrapt the bare and blasted heath-his fiend-like wife wandering in the gloom of her kingly halls - Hamlet, moralizing on the skull. They had been arranged under the guidance of one of our first artists, and we recognised his guiding hand and head. We saw them again, and the manager had deferred to the galleries—they were glaring and vulgar. We cannot blame him. His object is to please. But we claim a right to mourn over our disappointment. The case is still worse this year. In addition to the evils already touched upon, we have pictures of opera dancers in their most strained and precieuses attitudes, with garlands of artificial roses. We have fiery pictures, with indifferent grouping, and blood-red lights. But we must nevertheless admit, that we have been highly delighted with "Puck on his Owl," a pretty and "righte merrie conceite "--and also with Urania-but that there was too much of the blue light played off upon her forehead, which made it look like a metallic speculum. He "Dominique the Deserter, and the Gentleman in Black," is a delightful equivoque. The scene is laid in France, at the time of Richelieu's death. A creature of the Cardinal has forged an order for the death of a rival, and bribed a sentinel to execute it. Dominique, the foster-brother of the victim, is the sentinel. He sprinkles the floor of his dungeon with his own blood, and carries off his foster-brother alive. Shortly after, he hears that the rescued victim has been drowned on his passage to England, and that a reward is offered for his own head. At this moment the extravaganza opens. He is in despair, and ready to sell his soul for money. Amid a violent storm, the casement opens, and a gentleman in black enters. gives the Deserter money, exchanges cloaks with him, and departs, telling him that he will be his " warm friend." To add to Dominique's horror, every thing for a time works to his wish. Does he wish for a person or thing?—it is at his elbow. He is apprehended-but in his judge he recognises his friend in black. He demands a proof of his power-and his foster-brother stands be fore him. He falls into the power of his Colonel-and immediately the gentleman in black is there to liberate him. The piece amuses from the rapidity with which we are hurried from scene to scene-from one ludicrous incident to another. The burden of the business lay upon Murray's shoulders, and his alternate depression at the awful situation into which he had plunged himself, and triumph in his fancied power, were irresistible. The other actors, Mrs Faucit and Nicol, Miss Stoker, Pritchard, &c., supported him ably. laughed so much for many a day. ORIGINAL POETRY. SONNET. THE LAKE-FLOWER. By Thomas Brydson. We have not ALFRED. THOU seem'st a pinnace on some fairy sea, When a rare-coming cloud flits through the sky, So many circling mountains rise between The busy world and this secluded lake; Therefore, than aught around, I love thee more, And pause upon my journey, for thy sake, A little longer at the reedy shore. Earth cannot boast a flowerct like to theeSo pure, and so upsprung from purity. And the scream of death, borne on the blast, Tells of the warrior's bed. Thou sailest bold, amid the crash Of the pealing thunder's wrath, The winds that search the face of heaven, Silent and stern thou sweepest on, By mountain stream, by mountain stone, Away, away, and stoop not now, The palsied limb, the dull dim eye The sound of distant waters scems The keen glance of thine eye is clear, Swoop upon earth-with ruthless clutch For the hand which late the red brand grasp'd, Feast on, feast on, for there are none From out the mouth of the stag-hound, The wolf his tongue hath wrench'd, Or, stiff and cold on the blood-moist sward, He sits by the corse of his fallen lord, LITERARY CHITCHAT AND VARIETIES. THE London University Calendar for 1831-32, contains a history of the Institution, an outline by each Professor of his plan of In. struction, Examination Papers, hours of Attendance, Fees, Lists of Prizemen, certificated Students, Proprietors, &c. &c. The forthcoming volume of the Edinburgh Cabinet Library, is to contain the Lives and Voyages of Drake, Cavendish, and Dampier, including an introductory view of the earlier discoveries in the South Sea, with portraits engraved in Horsburgh's best line manner. Murray announces for his Family Library, the Life of Peter the Great, from some original documents, by the author of the Mutiny of the Bounty; and a new edition of Sir Thomas Dick Lauder's Morayshire Floods. "The Algerines, or the Turins of Naples," a novel, will shortly appear. "Latham House, in the days of John of Gaunt," by the author of "The Bandit," is announced. Miss E. A. Theleur, of the Royal Dancing Academy in Paris, announces a splendid 4to volume, with 24 copperplate Engravings, reducing this elegant and healthy exercise to scientific principles. The new edition of the Rev. Mr Stebbings' Lives of the Italian Poets, will comprise several additional lives, including that of Ugo Foscolo, with extracts from his private letters, containing interesting particulars relative to his last hours. Mr Francis Adams, surgeon, is engaged in translating the medical works of Paulus Egeneta, the Greek physician, which he will illustrate by a copious commentary. He proposes publishing by subscription, in three Svo volumes.-Mr James Boyle, author of a "Treatise on Moxa," will shortly publish an Account of the Fevers and other Diseases prevalent on the coast of Africa, together with a Medical Topography of that coast.-Dr James Hope is writing a Treatise on the Diseases of the Heart and Great Vessels. CHITCHAT FROM ABERDEEN. - Signor Paganini has been here, astonishing and delighting the Aberdonians with his bow ing and single string. He gave two grand Concerts on the evenings of Friday and Saturday last, which were numerously and fashion. ably attended. Mr Wilderspin has been giving a series of Lectures in the hall of the Royal Hotel, upon the Moral and Mental culture of Infants of all classes, preparatory to a public exhibition of the Aberdeen Infant School, which has lately been esta blished. It is to be hoped that Sessional and Infant Schools, for the children of our great manufacturing population, will soon be introduced into all the parishes of this large city, and the adjoin ing overgrown parish of Old Machar. Our townsman, Mr Ramage, has commenced his annual course of lectures on Natural Philosophy, in his hall in George Street.-M. Thiodon, from Paris, is at present exhibiting his Mechanical and Picturesque Arts, in Morison's Hall, Union Street.-An excellent schoolbook has late "An Officer of the Bombay Establishment" is preparing for the press, a Narrative of the Rise, Progress, and Present State of that Presidency, in all branches of its Administration, together with similar sketches of every native state in alliance or dependent on it. -Captain T. Lisle Fenwick, 58th Regiment, has in the press "A History of Ceylon, under the government of Lieut.-General Sir Edward Barnes." The same author announces "Notes of a Voyage from Ceylon to England, with some remarks on the presently been published by Messrs Smith and Co. of Montrose, entitled state of the Mauritius, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Condition of the Slaves in these Countries." Mr Thomas Pringle will shortly publish the "Emigrant" and other Poems. The scene is chiefly African, and the work will be beautifully illustrated by characteristic engravings on wood and copper, by the first artists. The author of the "Natural History of Enthusiasm," is preparing for publication a work entitled "Saturday Evening." MUSIC.-Vincent Novello is publishing select airs from "Zemira and Azor," arranged for the pianoforte, with ad libitum accompaniments for the flute, violin, and violoncello.-William Hawes has published a collection of Chants, Sanctuses, and Responses to the Commandments, as used at St Paul's and Westminster Abbey. Mr Hawes has been mainly instrumental in the introduction of German music upon our stage. PAINTING, SCULPTURE, &c.-The office-bearers of the Scottish Academy for last year have been re-elected.-Mr Nichols announces a new edition of the " Anecdotes of William Hogarth," with complete lists of his paintings and prints, and an account of their variations.- Proposals have been issued for forming a society to promote and encourage the art of medal engraving, by publishing continually medals commemorative of eminent men and remarkable events, and employing none but native artists to execute them. If conducted in a right spirit, and with due energy, such an association may raise this too much neglected branch of art.-A spirited engraving from one of Landseer's most living sketches will form one of the vignettes of Quentin Durward in the new edition; it represents the hounds of the Duke of Burgundy tearing down the Bohemian. The savage grasp of the ani mals, the tension of their limbs, and the bristling of their hair, is all but life. Chantry's operations, we hear, are delayed by the reluc tance of the Leith craners to adventure their machines, during the frost, upon a huge block of granite, which forms part of the pedestal. Is it true that the subscription having fallen short, he defrays the pedestal and erection out of his own pocket? Where shall we now seek for a garland worthy to entwine "the illustrious brow of Scotch nobility ?" EDINBURGH.-Paganini, with his "Farewell" and "Last Farewell Concerts," reminds us of the hero who "Fitted the halter, and traversed the cart, And often took leave, yet seem'd loth to depart." -The Charity Concert was well attended, yet scarcely so well as the patronage, the talents of the performers, and the cause, had led us to expect.-The Annual Dinner of the Six Feet Club takes place to-day. A numerous attendance is expected. Some names of celebrity are mentioned as guests.-The first meeting of the Shakspearian is fixed for Monday first. This anticipation of the usual season has been occasioned by our having some of the original members at present on a visit to the city. CHITCHAT FROM GLASGOW.-The Solicitor-General has been elected Lord Rector of the University by a great majority. The soirées of Anderson's University have commenced for the season; and truly delightful meetings they are. Cholera, of course, one may almost say, was the subject of the opening discourse, and was most ably traced in its destructive march from Jessore by Dr Lawrie. Mr Graham next delivered a succinct view of the chief discoveries in chemical science during the last year. Vanadium and Salacinum were duly mentioned, but it was not till the end of the lecture that the discovery of a law, or ultimate fact, in the interchange of certain gases and atmospheric air in tubes, was stated. It is curious and beautiful to a degree-pardon the pun. Its operation on the interior economy of our bodily system was perhaps the most striking part of it. To think that from Adam onwards it has assisted the process of respiration, and only been discovered now, is wonderful indeed.-Alexander opens the Theatre-Royal on Monday, with "The Patriot King." His Majesty is almost adored here, and said and sung almost everywhere.-An excellent simplification of Euclid has appeared here, by one of our ablest lecturers. "A Selection of Moral Lessons, Natural History, Bible Lessons, and Poetry; exhibiting a regular outline of such Entertaining and Useful Knowledge, as is most proper to be communicated to the Young, along with the art of Reading; also an Appendix, containing a short English Grammar and Dictionary," by Alexander Spencer, A.M. Preacher of the Gospel and Schoolmaster, Fordoun. -Poetical Ephemeras, by James P. Brown, who has contributed several pretty pieces of poetry to the pages of the Aberdeen Journal, Observer, and Magazine, will appear early in December. Theatrical Gossip.-There is nothing new at the great houses. "Victorine" continues to be the chief attraction at the Adelphi. It belongs to that class of dramatic works now becoming so fashionable, in which different periods of the lives of the same persons are taken, and handled as so many interdependent dramas. In " Victorine," there is an attempt made to give unity to the whole, by representing the intercalary acts as a dream.— Alexander is certainly the most original actor on the stage. Per. forming the Mock Duke at Dumfries lately, he advanced in the last scene to the front of the stage, and stooping down with an elegant wafture of his hand said-" Oh! gentlemen in the pit! do sit a little closer! See,how many are standing round."--Pasta has left Paris for Milan, Caradori for Venice. Blasis is at Turin, Lalande at Madrid. Donzelli and Zucchelli have been singing at Bologna. Malibran is going to Paris.-Nothing particular at TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. AN apology is due to the author of "A Visit to Hamilton Rowan," but the delay is unavoidable. We ought to have informed our respected friend at Dollar, last week, that the MS. has not been mislaid. Our mysterious Correspondent, who has seen himself in print, although he never published, is under consideration. Argus has our best thanks, and is exhorted to persevere ;-the nuisance in question shall be visited with our heavy indignation, and that right speedily. Our Naturalist visited the Menagerie during the week, but down a huge pail of an intoxicating liquor, denominated politics, found that owing to one of the keepers having inadvertently set citement, as rendered it dangerous to approach them. within reach of the animals, they were all in such a state of ex *+* The Court of Decorum, not wishing to occupy the public time with trifles, take the present opportunity of animadverting upon a minor error of some moment. They advert to the prac. tice some ladies have adopted, of allowing the fur-lining of their shoes to fold over. The sclufy appearance thus communicated to otherwise respectable enough feet, is an eyesore they cannot tolerate. N. B. To a correspondent, who subscribes himself Orator, we can only answer, that Dr W. T., having twice in public meetings of the whole inhabitants, and six times in convocations of his professional brethren, employed the figure of a ship with great effect, it is henceforth to be considered as his private property, and any person attempting to appropriate it, will be guilty of felony. LITERARY CRITICISM. Poland under the Dominion of Russia. By Harro Price 6d. sident and vice-president. These are a set of ruffians, most of whom have been arrested for crimes, and have purchased their freedom on certain conditions. These, like the hirelings of the Russian spies, (class 2,) keep a watchful eye on the universities. They seek all sorts of pretences for visiting the students in their lodgings, and become panders, in order to obtain the more ready access to them. This class includes various ranks and conditions, from the fashionable beau down to the pedlar. "The young man who accosted us in Lowicz, and who pretended to be an inspector of the stables from Warsaw, was probably a member of class two or five. He had apparently received orders to give a welcome reception to the Pole, who, as he informed us, was expected from Berlin. Though he conversed about the Bran We know not whether Harro Harring be a real or fictitious personage. Certain it is, that, judging from his style, he may be any one of the three hundred and sixty-five industrious young men who furnish romances and tales of love, war, and glamourie, for that most judicious portion of the German public which derives its stores of instruction and amusement from annuals, "Journals for the Elegant World," (how feeble beside denburgh Gate, and Mademoiselle Sontag, and spoke in this emphatic title, our Belle Assemblée !) and the cir-high admiration of the Prussian officers, yet he mainculating library. He has a smattering of every science, with knowledge of none; he is a prodigious patriot, yet ready to take service with the Emperor of all the Russias; ambitious, above all things, of being at once witty and sentimental, à la Sterne. The statistical information which he gives us respecting Poland, we possessed already, much more complete, in Hassel. His route to Warsaw may be found in any road-book. His description of the city itself, have we it not in Coxe, &c. ? Still it is evident that Harro Harring, whoever he be, writes about what he has seen; and, as he rattles out his reminiscences pleasingly, though pertly, they may serve to keep alive in the European mind things that dare not be forgotten. First in order is the system of Russian éspionnage: "When the military party had gradually dispersed, and some degree of tranquillity prevailed in the inn, a young man in plain clothes stepped up to me and my travelling companions, and, with a busy, officious air, enquired respecting some person at Berlin. "In Poland, the needy are not left unprovided for. There are five classes of spies : "1. The spies of the Grand Duke, who are either men of high birth, or men who have been raised to high rank by his Highness's favour. "2. Spies in the service of this first class, rogues of all conditions, who supply their masters with intelligence for a daily salary, varying from two ducats to two Polish florins. "3. Spies of the Russian authorities. These are noblemen who insinuate themselves everywhere. They travel abroad, and visit the fashionable bathing places. They differ from the first class only in the nature of their employment. tained his disguise but very clumsily. He addressed to but, finding he could elicit no satisfactory information, us several questions concerning our journey and its object, he hummed a few bars of the Jäger-Chor, and then entered into conversation with our bustling and goodhumoured hostess. Having accompanied us half-way through the town, he wished us good-day, and with a very amiable smile took his leave." The Grand Duke Constantine has gone to his account, and for any interest that can attach to one of the weakest and most brutal minds ever lodged in human form, his name might be "wrote in water." But the consequences of his actions live after him, and he may not be forgotten until the bones of thousands of patriots, now bleaching on the plains of Poland, be gathered into one proud known that Poland, like every Russian province, is one cemetery by their enfranchised countrymen. It is well wide barrack. It is well known that the soldier alone the heartless manner in which even he, the main-stay of counts for any thing under that barbarous dynasty. But their throne, is treated by these Mongols, is, we suspect, scarcely a matter of notoriety in this country. "The officers as well as sub-officers of the Russian horse-guards are subjected to the most rigorous discipline, and are required to execute, on horseback, all the manoeuvres of a theatrical equestrian. He had "One day an officer of the lancer guard was going through his exercise before the Grand Duke. performed all the usual evolutions in the most satisfactory way, until, when at full gallop, he was suddenly ordered to turn, his horse proved restive, and refused to obey either bridle or spur. "The command was repeated in a thundering voice, and the officer renewed his efforts to make the horse obey it, but without effect; for the fiery animal continued to prance about in defiance of his rider, who was, nevertheless, an excellent horseman. 4. Spies of the Russian secret military police, at the head of which is Colonel Baron von Sass, a man who is by far too good for his office. His assistants, among whom the most distinguished are an old Pole and his "The rage of the Grand Duke had vented itself in four daughters, have, in their turn, their assistants. furious imprecations, and all present trembled for the These latter are low wretches, who frequent the coffee- consequences. Halt he exclaimed, and ordered a houses in search of suspected persons. pyramid of twelve muskets, with fixed bayonets, to be "5. The spies of the city police, employed by the pre-erected. The order was instantly obeyed. |