and who, after treating our host with sixpenny-worth of gin and water, ventured to ask him if there was not a sort of olub held once a week in the house; and cautioned him, in a very friendly manner, as he valued his license, to beware what sort of people he permitted to meet and talk in his upper room. We laughed heartily at this little occurrence; and as our various avocations lead us into different parts of the town, and oblige us to mingle with people of every description, we soon found that every member had something to communicate respecting the Iris, and our first number. The Iris had been met with in every quarter. On the toilets of elegant ladies, and in the work shops of near the Market-place, who has discovered that a As it is our determination not to be precipitate in bowed at the shrine of hymen, will pourtray also the pleasures of celibacy, and thus bring forth the talent of your fair readers on a subject so interestY. ing. Feb. 12th, 1822. THE BACHELOR. IN my wanderings amid the mountainscenery of nature, I was struck with the appearance of an aged tree, that stood singly, bending over the brow of a rocky steep. The ruthless hand of time had unwashed artificers. We had seen it stuck amongst disclosing the secrets of our society, we shall make despoiled it of its foliage, save here and the papers of the lawyer, and mingled with invoices in the counting house. More than one reverend divine had, in our presence, put on his spectacles to peruse it; and a physician in great practice was observed in his carriage with Messrs. Smith's incipient quarto in his hand. A work so much read has of course been criticised. It is not our business to repeat the praises which have been bestowed upon the spirit of the publishers, or the wishes for their success which have been uttered by so many persons. We, of course, have been chiefly attentive to what was said of our Secretary's paper; and have been sometimes pleased, and sometimes, we will own, a little mortified by the undisguised opinions which we have heard on the subject. The reader, if he has ever written, will be able to judge of our secretary's feelings, when, on asking a neighbour, with as much unconcern as possible, what he thought of the Iris? he was answered that there were several good things in it, but the best by far was the account of the man who came over from France as a valley de sham, and made a fortune of two hundred thousand pounds!' We find that there is a great contrariety of senti ment in the town on the subject of our religious and political opinions. Those who have heated their imaginations with the controversy which has been occasioned by the Rev. Mr. Curr's letter, are impatient to know our judgement of the points in dispute. The several parties are all equally confident that we must have been convinced by the publications on their side of the question, and are all alike positive, that, in a no comments upon the various opinions which we have One thing, however, we must not omit to notice. assure them that their curiosity on this head will number. P. S. One of our members, who is still unmarried, as to render it liable to no misconstruction. He two others, seldom take more than a single glass in reads the Iris, and is aware of our friends connexion Caution. The gentleman in the brown coat and velvet collar, who staid late, and drank rather too freely, with a party of manufacturers, at the Cat and Bagpipes, last Friday evening; and who, in his apology to his wife, there a green leaf, that was scattered amongst its twisted branches; and which seemed to have been left, to denote that life still lingered in its tottering frame. The wind, as it rushed at intervals from between the hills, whistled round its hoary head, and not unfrequently snatched away a quivering leaf, or snapped off a sapless bough, and tossed it to the vale below. Alas! thought I, thus fares it with the man, who, in the morning of his days, says in his heart, behold! my strength is upon me—I will set my feet in high places; and like the bird that skims through the air, I will be unrestrained and free. My heart will I shut up, so that no daughter of the land shall ensnare it—no clamorous offspring shall stand round me to circumscribe my path; I will roam whithersoever I list, and no say, one shall 'where goest thou?' at liberty will I pursue my own pleasures, and live to myself alone. Deluded mortal! as the tree that strikes its rigid fibres into the barren summit of the mountain cliff, never attains its perfect vigour and beauty, as even its fullest prime is marked by unfruitfulness and deformityas premature old age soon lays its tempest beaten head in the dust-and as all the days of its years are sad and lonely; varied but by the croaking of the ominous number or two, we shall give proof of our honesty asserted that he was a Member of the Club, at the raven, the screaming of the bird of prey, and sound judgement, by openly declaring for them. Our political critics have not treated us with quite so much charity. About the Exchange our loyalty is suspected, because it is stated in our first number that some of us are friendly to reform; while in the neighbourhood of the New Cross, and especially amongst the female reformers, many are certain that no man of sound principles could have written two pages with out mentioning Mr. Hunt, and the Northern Union. These are the judgements of ordinary readers. But there is a gentleman of more than common sagacity, who is the oracle of the company at a certain tavern Green Dragon, is hereby cautioned not to make any TO THE EDITOR. M. M. or the howlings of the storms of heaven, so shall the sum of thy life be. Thy heart, unpurified in the refining alembic of love, shall become cold, and unyielding as adamant. Unused to the tender anxiSIR,-The following delineation of the forlorn eties, the softening delights, the soothing state of a Bachelor, was written by a member of a and tranquilizing endearments of married juvenile society in the north of England, and hav-life, it shall be harsh and severe. Thy ing never appeared in print, I shall feel gratified by its insertion in your agreeable miscellany. Perhaps mind ever accustomed to revolve in an some of your correspondents who have not yet orbit, of which thyself and thine own desires are the centre, shall become contracted and deformed. And as thou hast condemned thyself to tread the uncheering paths of solitude, the clouds of dejection and despondency shall surely encompass thee about; then shalt thou look back and lament thy unwise choice; and if thou shouldst have the courage to look forward, it will be with forebodings of greater evils than those thou hast already endured. The spoiler shall make a prey of thee; and the mocker shall point the finger, and say, behold the man, who loveth no one save himself alone.' But age ' dark and unlovely,' shall come fast upon thee, and imprint her premature wrinkles on thy care worn brow. Then shalt thou lift up thy dim eyes, and look around thee for comfort and consolation, but alas! none shall be afforded thee. No son full of manly vigour to direct thy uncertain steps; no lovely daughter, to sooth with affectionate and endearing attentions thy declining life-to support thee during the day, and at night to smooth the pillow for thy drooping head. The hireling shall attend thy uneasy couch; and the stranger shall receive thy last sigh. Thus, like the mountain tree, thou shalt stand alone and unsheltered, friendless and deserted, thou shalt feel the full force of every adverse gale; and when thou fallest thou shalt fall unnoticed -thy name shall be forgotten among men; and the remembrance of thee, as that of a cloud which passeth away. POETRY. [ORIGINAL] WHAT IS LOVE? Love's not an idle giddy dream, A vapid empty sound, Nor yet like summer's bright sunbeam, No! love is wise, substantial, true, Which time nor change can ne'er subdue, Love's not a transient sudden rise, Nor like a meteor of the skies, Nor phantom that will flee. No! love's a lasting, heavenly day, A firm, a steady rock! Love knows no change, no wand'ring way, But braves each worldly shock! And when this tott'ring fabric dies, And when unchain'd the spirit flies, Feb. 22nd, 1822. T. T. L. [ORIGINAL.] TO MY INFANT. There is a charm which few can feel, When calmly sunk in welcome rest. Where little dimples love to dwell; To me have charms which none can tell. Thy playful wiles-and artless smiles- To trace the lustre of thine eye, I've ponder'd on thy future doom; To find a welcome in the skies. Salford, 12th Feb. 1822. [ORIGINAL] THE ROSE. Fanning zephyrs gently woo thee, In praising thy sweet charms combine; Full many a king, and warrior dread, The brilliant ruler of the day, For fear thy tender leaf should fade, And weeping bent to be thy shade. O ever gentle, ever kind! Still grace my cot, thou beauteous flower, A happy home with me you'll find, A happy home within my bower. Feb. 12th, 1822. IMPROMPTU, H. L. Y. after the signal victory of the Nile, Admiral Nelson having previously lost an eye and an arm. Frenchmen, no more with Britons vie, Nelson destroys your naval band, Sees your designs with half an eye, And fights and beats you with one hand. SONG, BY A MOTHER TO HER INFANT. Weepe not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, Last his sorrow, first his joy. Weepe not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, Father's sorrow, father's joy. Weepe not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, Weepe not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, When thou art old there's griefe enough for thee. This beautiful song is taken from Greene's Arcadia, published in 1599. Robert Greene was a celebrated dramatist in the time of Queen Elizabeth, aud author of many works to which Shakspeare was much indebted. They are interspersed with many short compositions like the above, which indicate much poetical taste and feeling. Considering that he wrote most of his pieces in quick succession, to supply his immediate wants, it is surprising to see how polished some of them are. Though, from their popularity, they must have gone through many editions, they are now very J. scarce. HELVELLYN. In the spring of 1805, Mr. Charles Gongh, of this town, perished by loosing his way over the Mountain of Helvellyn. His remains were not discovered until three months afterwards, when they were found guarded by a faithful terrier, his constant attendant during his frequent rambles through the wilds of Cumberland and Westmoreland. I climb'd the dark brow of the mighty Helvellyn, Lakes and mountains beneath me gleam'd misty and wide, All was still, save by fits, when the eagle was yelling, bending, And Catchedecam its left verge was defending, Dark green was the spot, 'mid the brown mountain heather, Where the pilgrim of nature lay stretch'd in decay, Like the corpse of an outcast, abandon'd to weather, Till the mountain winds wasted the tenantless clay; Nor yet quite deserted, tho' lonely extended, For faithful in death, his mute favorite attended, The much lov'd remains of his master defended, And chased the hill fox, and the raven away. How long did'st thou think that his silence was slumber? When the wind wav'd his garments, how oft did'st thou start? How many long days and long nights, did'st thou number, E're he faded before thee, the friend of thy heart? And oh! was it meet that no requiem read o'er him, No mother to weep, and no friend to deplore him, And thou, little guardian, alone stretch'd before him, Unhonor'd the pilgrim of life should depart? When a prince to the fate of a peasant has yielded, In the proudly arch'd chapel the banners are beaming But meeter for thee, gentle lover of nature, To lay down thy head like the meek mountain lamb, When wilder'd, he drops from some cliff, huge in stature, And draws his last sob, by the side of his dam; And more stately thy couch, by this desert lake lying, Thy obsequies sung by the grey plover flying, With but one faithful friend to witness thy dying, In the arms of Helvellyn and Catchedecam. THE UNICORN. From the Rev. John Campbell's Narrative of a Second Journey in the Interior of Africa, vol. I. pp. 294—5. 'During our absence from Mashow, two Rhinoceroses came into the town during the night, when the inhabitants assembled and killed them both. The rhinoceroses, shot by Jager, on the preceding day, having been cut up, were brought, the one in a waggon, the other on pack-oxen. We divided one among Kossie, Manameets, and Pelangye. They brought also the head of one of them, which was different from all the others that had been killed. The common African Rhinoceros has a crooked horn resembling a cock's spur, which rises about nine or ten inches above the nose and inclines backwards; immediately behind this is a short thick horn; but the head they brought had a straight horn projecting three feet from the forehead, about ten inches above the tip of the nose. The projection of this great horn very much resembles that of the fanciful Unicorn in the British arms. It has a small thick horny substance, eight inches long, immediately behind it, which can hardly be observed on the animal at the distance of a hundred yards, and seems to be designed for keeping fast that which is penetrated by the long horn; so that this species of rhinoceros must appear really like a unicorn when running in the field. The head resembled in size a nine-gallon cask, and measured three feet from the mouth to the ear, and being much larger than that of the one with the crooked horn, and which measured eleven feet in length, the animal itself must have been still larger and more formidable. From its weight, and the position of the horn, it appears capable of overcoming any creature hitherto known. Hardly any of the natives took the smallest notice of the head, but treated it as a thing familiar to them. As the entire horn is perfectly solid, the natives, I afterwards heard, make from one horn four handles for their battle-axes. Our people wounded another, which they reported to be much larger.* The following extracts, illustrative of the above, are from the Missionary Sketches. at The skull and horn excited great curiosity Cape so great, it appeared necessary to cut off the under jaw The head being so weighty; and the distance to the and leave it behind; (the Mashow who cut off the flesh from it had ten cuts on his back, which were marks for ten men he had killed in his lifetime.) The animal is considered by naturalists, since the arrival of the skull in London, to be the Unicorn of the ancients, and the same as that which is described in the 39th chapter of the book of Job. The part of the head brought to London, may be seen at the Missionary Museum: and, for such as may not have the oppor tunity of seeing the head itself, the above drawing of it has been made. Cape Town, most scientific persons there being of opinion that it was all that we should have for the Unicorn. An animal of the size of a horse, which the fancied Unicorn is supposed to be, would not answer the description of the Unicorn given in the Sacred Scriptures, where it is described as a very large, ferocious, and untameable creature; but the animal in question exactly answers it in every respect. The Hebrew name by which it is called is Reem, which signifies Might or Strength. The translators of the Old Testament into Greek called it Monoceros ; in the Latin (or Vulgate) translation it is Unicornis. In various countries it bears a name of similar import. In Geez it is called Arwe Harich, and in the Amharic, Auraris, both signifying the large wild beast with the horn.' In Nubia, it is called Girnamgirn, or 'horn upon horn.' This exactly applies to the skull in the Society's Museum, which has a small conical horn behind the long one. From the latter we preIsume this animal has been denominated the Unicorn, it being the principal, and by far the most prominent horn, the other, as before intimated, being scarcely distinguishable at a short distance. The writer of the article Unicorn,' in the Supplement to the Encyclopedia Britannica, observes, (defining the term) the Scriptural name of an animal, which was undoubtedly the one-horned Rhinoceros.' Some authors, both ancient and modern, have I described an animal, which they call the Unicorn, said to resemble a horse, or deer, with a long horn, represented in English heraldry as one of the sup porters of the royal arms; but there is reason to doubt the existence of any such quadruped. It is probable that the long horn ascribed to such an animal is that of a fish, or, as termed by some, a Sea Unicorn, called the Monodon, or Narwhal, confounding the land and sea animal together. The horn of the fish here alluded to, was formerly imposed on the world as the horn of the Unicorn, at an immense price. On the whole, it seems highly probable that the Rhinoceros, having one long horn projecting from its face, is the only Unicorn existing, and although it has a kind of stamp of another horn behind the long projecting one, yet that it has been denominated Unicorn, (or one horn,) from that which is so obvious and prominent; and certainly its great bulk and strength render it such a formidable and powerful animal as is described in the Sacred Scriptures.' TO THE EDITOR. SIR,-In your last week's Iris, there is a letter signed L. wishing to know who is the author of the verses beginning Take, O take those lips away,' &c. I cannot positively inform your correspondent who is really the author, but I send you extracts from Percy and Drake, which, if they will in any way satisfy him, are perfectly at his service. Percy, in his Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, vol. I. p. 243 says, The first stanza of this little sonnet, which an eminent critic justly admires for its sweetness, is found in Shakspeare's Measure for Measure. Both the stanza's are preserved in Beaumont and Fletcher's Bloody Brother. Sewell and Gildon have printed it among Shakspeare's smaller poems; but they have done the same by twenty other pieces, that were never writ by him, their book being a wretched heap of inaccuracies and mistakes. It is not found in Jaggard's old edition of Shakspeare's Passionate Pilgrim,' &c. Drake, in his Literary Hours,' vol. II. p. 95, speaking of Gallus, Joannes Secundus, and Muretus, poets, may be found the origin of that exquisite song observes, that in the Lydia of the first of these of Fletcher, lip Take, O take those lips away,' &c. He also subjoins Fletcher's name to the same poem, in a list of Amatory pieces, vol. II. p. 99. Your's, Manchester, Feb. 20, 1822, J. O. U. WEEKLY DIARY. FEBRUARY. REMARKABLE DAYS. SUNDAY, 24.-Saint Matthias. Matthias was, probably, one of the seventy disciples, and was a constant attendant upon our Lord, from the time of his baptism by St. John until his ascension. WEDNESDAY, 27.-Ember Week. There are four Ember Weeks in the year, namely, after the first Sunday in Lent, after the feast of Pentecost, after the 14th of September, and after the 13th of December. SEA STORIES; he trembled still more, and bit repeatedly his quiver- painted, from the hand of the stranger to his face: | among the billows, and all again is dark. Such are the tales of the peasantry, respecting *** castle. Many more, of the same kind, have obtained general credence in the adjacent hamlets and villages. To account for the strange appearance just mentioned of the Water Wraith, the cottagers in the neighbourhood tell the following tale. The strauger frowned-he lifted the dark masses of hair from his face-the Captain started, Is it possible-Jack Brindle-no 'It is it is,' said the stranger, I am Jack Brindle, whom you thought had perished in the cavern. I escaped, long ere, by your own account, you did, and by a much easier outlet. I was washed through the rock, and came out at the foot of the mountain. I joined our ship, they would not stay to search for you, my brave boy, but here you are, and that's enough. But captain, you have got so much of the bully swagger about you, that I should never ha' known ye, but for your tale, bat gi' us your hand my boy, I little thought to see you this side o' Davy Or the Voyage and Adventures of Cyril Shenstone, Esq. the person who had so pleased me with his singing, No. II. When dark December, keen and wild For if you roam,' she says, 'at night, We all urged the captain to proceed, but the effects of the brandy had stopped bis eloquence, and to all our solicitations he returned a surly growl, so that we were obliged to put up with the loss. ‹ Sae, Captain, I perceive,' said a small Scotch broker, with his arm in a sling, who had been listening attentively to the captain's tale, sae I perceive you did escape 'frae your perilous situation. Gude❘ defend us, I guessed as much, when I cam to think that it was yer ain sel sittin here telling the story. 'would you be kind enough to favour us with some There lived at the castle in former days, a Baron, who had an only daughter named Ella. Her beauty, and riches, made her the magnet of attraction to all the young noblemen and knights in the country, who vied with each other in their assiduities. The Baron put no constraint upon the affections of Ella, whom he dearly loved, though he had discovered her prepossession for Sir Oscar, a young knight of great valour, and splendid accomplishments, but far inferior to his daughter, in birth and riches. Among the candidates for the favours of Ella, was a young Baron named Ulrio. He was a man of boundless ambition, and altogether a desperate character. Her matchless beauty, and numerous graces, bore no attractions in his eyes, compared with the increase He frequently met her in her solitary walks along the of domain and power, he should acquire with her. beach, and urged his suit with all the eloquence be was master of; but it was in vain. On such occasions, she would treat him with a respect almost bordering upon tenderness; but it was the effect of fear, and she would immediately quicken her pace The young man, without further solicitation, read towards the castle; she dreaded him from his chaas follows. TALE II. The Water Wraith. On the eastern banks of the ***, where it disembogues it's waters into the ocean, stand the fragments of what was once a noble, and in the olden time, deemed an impregnable castle. Most likely, it was originally built to prevent the inroads of the Danes, at the period when they made their incursions, and committed such dreadful ravages upon our coasts. No vestiges now remain of its ancient grandeur, but a tolerable idea may be formed of its vast magnitude, from the great extent of ground covered by its ruins. : racter, which was villanous in the extreme. He was proud, haughty, cruel, and treacherous. Many acts of his cruelty, and instances of his vindictive spirit, were well known and other crimes, of a deeper dye, were charged to his account. By several, who durst not speak openly, he was supposed to be the instigator, if not the actual murderer of his own father. Time wore away, and the gallant Sir Oscar, and the fair Ella, grew every day more enamoured of each other. At length, a day was fixed for their nuptials. When Ulric heard of this, after receiving a final repulse from Ella, and no encouragement from her father, whom he had secretly solicited to use his That castle has been the scene of many wild and paternal influence and authority over her, in his strange events. It is shunned by the simple cottagers behalf; he vowed the direst revenge on the innocent who live near it, for, although it has been uninha-maiden and her lover. His castle lay several miles bited many ages, except by marine birds, screech I'm sure the loss of spirits was on my side owls, or now and then, in stormy nights, by a gang ma'am,' said the other lady dolefullyof smugglers, they say it is tenanted by the inhabiAnd equally so on mine ma'am, for which I have tants of the grave. Every time that December, to thank you,' said the Captain. Oh, dear! Captain,' said a fat simpering lady, 'what a cruel creature you are, to raise one's curiosity to so interesting a pitch, and then to leave one in the dark, all for a lady's spirits'- And how long since may this have happened, of the shuddering north winds, and the hoarser dash-castle was known by the name of the Black Tower, Captain,' said a deep stern voice. ing of the waves, brings up the rear of the revolvI looked at the figure from whom it proceeded. ing months; lights are seen, flitting about the few He wore a dark rough coat, closely buttoned to his remaining apartments, and he who walks up the shin, and had a black patch stuck upon his weather- opposite bank of the river at midnight, will see the beaten face. I had not heard him enter into conver-spectre of a lady enshrined in pale light, which, sation with any one before. How long' repeated he however dark and stormy the night may be, appears was it since that happened.' not only on account of it's gloomy appearance, but in allusion to the disposition of it's owner, and the dark deeds which had been there transacted. Hither Ulric retired, and secluded himself from all intercourse with mankind, while he ruminated upon his disappointment, and planned his schemes of revenge. In the mean time at *** Castle, preparations for the intended solemnization of the marriage, were going on rapidly. Guests were invited; the domestics were provided with new liveries; and the great Hall was decorated with all the pomp and splendour suited to the occasion. December was now arrived, in the middle of which, the ceremony was to take place; and, hitherto all had proceeded smoothly, except with the gloomy Ulric. THE MANCHESTER IRIS. GEORGE THE THIRD. game. well in Ireland, eh?' The humour of this sally tickled our hero as well as the author of it, and they both laughed them selves into greater intimacy. ing there--no smuggling now among you, eh? No excisemen-shooting Lords now?-Bad game, bad Poor Lord Eglinton had a true taste for agriWe extract the following characteristic culture; the county, I have heard, owes him muchThe Baron contemplated the coming event with He considered that by it, his scene from a work just published, entitled Still improving ?-Nothing like it-The war needs entire satisfaction. of a shrewd Scotchdaughter would be united to a man who would make Sir Andrew Wylie, of that Ilk. It de-men-Corn is our dragon's teeth-Potatoes do as progress her happy through life, and serve in the place of him- scribes the man, from humble life to political disThe writer of the book was self for a protector; a situation, which, in the course of nature, he must very soon resign. The gallant tinction. Sir Oscar was all impatience for the day, on which evidently acquainted with the peculiar he could call the lovely maid his own; and she had habits of his late Majesty; and if his nothing to interrupt the peaceful serenity of her mind, well-known condescension and familiarity save that interesting flutter of thought, which she be somewhat exaggerated, we may forfelt, when pondering upon the important, yet desir-give this attempt to produce an effect, able change, about to take place in her condition. when we see the author's anxiety to renA very short time however, before the expected day, der justice to the goodness of heart, the as she was returning from a solitary walk along the benevolence, and the patriotism of that shore, she was met by Sir Oscar, who, perceiving exemplary Monarch. her to look pale and alarmed, anxiously enquired the cause. "Well, but, sir,' said Andrew, as I'm only a two about the King, just as to what sort of a man he stranger here, I would like to ask you a question or really is; for we can place no sort of dependence on newspapers or history books, in matters anent rulers and men of government.' What like Sir Robert Walpole-not believe history?-Scotchmen very cautious.' But the old gentleman added, in a graver accent, The King is not so good as some say to him he is: nor is he so · bad as others say of him. But I know that he has conscientiously endeavoured to do his duty, and the best man can do no more, be their trusts high or low.' That, I believe, we a' in general think; even the blacknebs never dispute his honesty, though they and understand, is no wi' regard to his kingly faculundervalue his talents. But what I wish to know ties, but as to his familiar ways and behaviour-the things in which he is like the generality of the world.' Ha!' said the stranger, briskly relapsing into his wonted freedom, 'very particular, very particular indeed. What reason, friend, have you to be so particular?-Must have some?-People never so with By sunrise on the Sunday morning Wylie was brushing the early dew in the Little Park, to taste the freshness of the morning gale, or as he himself better expressed it, to take a snuff of caller air on the brow of son for being so soon abroad: it occurred to him in the hill. But healthful exercise was not his only reathe watches of the night, that as his Majesty was an early riser, the household too would of course be stirring with the cock; and that some of them might be more readily met with at that time than later in the morning. Accordingly he kept a sharp look out on all sides as he strolled through the Park, but he saw Surely, Sir, it's a very natural curiosity for a only a solitary laundress with a basket of linen on her head, going to the town, and three or four lump-subject to inquire what sort of a man the Sovereign is, ish country boys that came whistling along the foot- whom he has sworn to honour and obey, and to bear true allegiance with hand and heart.' path from Datchet, in their clod shoes, with white cotton stockings, and the knees of their new velveteen breeches shown in front beneath clean smock frocks; the tails of which, behind, were tucked up to show their Sunday coats. She endeavoured for some time to evade giving him the true answer, attributing her paleness to the coldness of the sea breeze, and her alarm to a fear of not reaching home before the fall of night. On being further questioned, however, she informed him the old grey-haired harper, who had arrived at the Castle about a week before, had been the cause of her alarm. She had wandered out in the afternoon, to a considerable distance along the beach, so far as round the headland, where the cliffs commence; when she was suddenly startled, by hearing a soft strain of music proceeding from the rocks at some and distance. Mingling with the voice of the waves, the hoarse raving of the breeze, it fell, sweetly wild and irregular, at intervals upon her ear, and almost 'Somewhat disappointed, but thinking he was still overpowered her, with the emotion it caused in her too early for the inmates of a palace, he prolonged feelings. His eyes were intently fixed upon the vast assemblage of waters before him, yet they did not his walk towards the meadows; and in stepping over elderly man, in a plain blue coat, with scarlet cuffs seem to occupy his thoughts. There was a kind of a stile, he saw, close before him, a stout and tall and collar, which at first he took for a livery. There absence in his countenance, that indicated he was was something, however, in the air of the wearer, musing upon distant scenes, or events long gone by, and, heedless of the chilly north wind, that blew his which convinced him that he could not be a servant; grey locks upon his fading cheeks, he tuned his harp and an ivory headed cane, circled with gold, which he carried in a sort of negligent poking manner, led to the most pathetic and mournful strains. She ap-him to conclude that he was either an old officer, or one of the Poor Knights of Windsor; for he had proached him unperceived, and heard him sing the following words, which he accompanied with the harp. added to his learning, in the course of the preceding evening, a knowledge of the existence of this appendage to the noble Order of the Garter. said the embryo courtier to himself, is just the vera thing that I hae been seeking. I'll make up to this decent carl; for nae doubt he's well acquaint with a' about the King,' and he stepped alertly forward. But before he had advanced many paces, the old gentleman turned around and seeing a stranger, stopped; and looking at him for two or three seconds said to himself, loud enough, however, to be heard, Strange man- don't know him-don't know him;' and then he paused till our hero had come up Oh! feeble now is grown the hand, That hand but wakes the harp-string's now ; My cheek, and eye, their fire have lost, My battled mansion fair, that stood, Proud glancing o'er the main. In age another land to roam, With footsteps weak and slow : This,' Gude-day, sir,' said Wylie as he approached; 'ye're early a-fit on the Sabbath morning; but I'm thinking his Majesty, honest man, sets you a' here an example of sobriety and early rising.' Scotchman, eh!' said the old gentleman; 'fine morning, fine morning, sir-weather warmer here than with you? What part of Scotland do you come from? How do you like Windsor? Come to see the King, eh?' and loudly he made the echoes ring with his laughter. The senator was a little at a loss which question to answer first; but delighted with the hearty freedom of that salutation, jocularly said, It's no easy to answer so many questions all at once; but if ye'll no object to the method, I would say that we guess right, sir, and that I come from the shire of Ayr.' Ah, shire of Ayr!--a fine county that-good farm out reason.' True, true, true,' exclaimed the old gentleman Just remark-Come on business to England?What business?' My chief business, in truth, sir, at present here, is to see and learn something about the King. I have no other turn in hand at this time.' Turn, turn,' cried the stranger perplexedWhat turn ?-Would place the King on your lathe, eh?' Our hero did not well know what to make of his quick and versatile companion; and while the old blink gentleman was laughing at the jocular turn which he ye had himself given to the Scotticism, he said, I'm strangers anent his Majesty's conduct, for thinking, friend, ye're commanded no to speak with the question, as they say in Parliament.' Parliament!-Been there ?-How do you like it?-Much cry, and little wool among them, eh?' "Ye say Gude's truth, sir; and I wish they would make their speeches as short and pithy as the King's. I'm told his Majesty has a very gracious and pleasant delivery,' replied our hero, pawkily; and the stranger, not heeding his drift, said, with simplicity, "It was so thought when he was young; but he is now an old man, and not what I have known him.' "I suppose,' replied our hero, that you have been long in his service?' Yes, I am one of his oldest servants-Ever since I could help myself,' was the answer, with a sly smile, I may say I have been his servant.' And I dinna doubt,' replied the senator, that you have had an easy post.' I have certainly obeyed his will,' cried the stranger, in a lively laughing tone; but changing into a graver, he added, But what may be my reward, at least in this world, it is for you and others to judge.' I'm mista'en, then, if it shouldna be liberal,' replied Andrew; for ye seem a man of discretion; and doubtless, merit the post ye have so long possessed. May be some day in Parliament I may call this conversation to mind, for your behoof. The King canna gang far wrang sae lang as he keeps counsel with snch douce and prudent-like men, even though ye hae & Lit flight of the faney. What's your name?' The old gentleman looked sharply; but in a moment his countenance resumed its wonted open cheer |