'nation- -a true English merchant. The proudest moments of his life were those, when an accompanying friend could estimate his consequence, by witnessing the mandarin movements that everywhere met him -the obsequious obeisances of even his closest rivals-as he hurried to and fro about the central regions of 'Change, his hands stuck into the worn pockets of his plain snuff-coloured coat. The merest glance at Mr Dudleigh-his hurried, fidgety, anxious gestures—the keen, cautious expression of his glittering grey eyes his mouth screwed up like a shut purse-all, all told of the "man of a million." There was, in a manner, a "plum" in every tread of his foot, in every twinkle of his eye. He could never be said to breathe freely really to live-but in his congenial atmosphere-his native elementthe City!

Once every year he gave a capital dinner, at a tavern, to all his agents, clerks, and people in any way connected with him in business; and none but himself knew the quiet ecstasy with which he took his seat at the head of them all-joined in their timid jokes, echoed their modest laughter, made speeches, and was be-speechified in turn! How he sate while great things were saying of him, on the occasion of his health's being drunk! On one of these occasions, his health had been proposed by his sleek head-clerk, in a most neat and appropriate speech, and drunk with uproarious enthusiasm; and good Mr Dudleigh was on his legs, energetically making his annual avowal that "that was the proudest moment of his life," when one of the waiters came and interrupted him, by saying that a gentleman was with out, waiting to speak to him on most important business. Mr Dudleigh hurriedly whispered that he would attend to the stranger in a few minutes, and the waiter withdrew; but returned in a second or two, and put a card into his hand. Mr Dudleigh was electrified at the name it borethat of the great loan contractorthe city Croesus, whose wealth was reported to be incalculable! He has tily called on some one to supply his place; and had hardly passed the door, before he was hastily shaken

"

by the hands by —, who told him at once that he had called to propose to Mr Dudleigh to take part with him in negotiating a very large loan on account of the government! After a flurried pause, Mr Dudleigh, scarce knowing what he was saying, assented. In a day or two the transaction was duly blazoned in the leading papers of the day; and every one in the city spoke of him as one likely to double or even treble his already ample fortune. Again he was praised

again censured-again envied! It was considered advisable that he should repair to the continent, during the course of the negotiation, in order that he might personally superintend some important collateral transactions; and when there, he was most unexpectedly detained nearly two months. Alas! that he ever left England! During his absence, his infatuated wife betook herself" like the dog to his vomit, like the sow to her wallowing in the mire"-to her former ruinous courses of extravagance and dissipation, but on a fearfully larger scale. Her house was more like an hotel than a private dwelling; and blazed away, night after night, with light and company, till the whole neighbourhood complained of the incessant uproar occasioned by the mere arrival and departure of her guests. To her other dreadful besetments, Mrs Dudleigh now added the odious and vulgar vice of-intoxication! She complained of the deficiency of her animal spirits; and said she took liquor as a medicine! She required stimulus, and excitement, she said, to sustain her mind under the perpetual run of ill luck she had at cards! It was in vain that her poor daughter remonstrated, and almost cried herself into fits, on seeing her mother return home, frequently in the dull stupor of absolute intoxication !"Mother, mother, my heart is breaking!" said she one evening.

"So-so is mine"-hiccuped her parent-" so get me the decanter!"

Young Harry Dudleigh trode emulously in the footsteps of his mother; and ran riot to an extent that was before unknown to Oxford!--The sons of very few of the highest nobility had handsomer allowances than he; yet was he constantly over head

and ears in debt. He was a backer of the ring ruffians; a great man at cock and dog fights; a racer; in short-a_blackguard of the first water. During the recess, he had come up to town, and taken up his quarters, not at his father's house, but at one of the distant hotelswhere he might pursue his profligate courses without fear of interruption. He had repeatedly bullied his mother out of large sums of money to supply his infamous extravagancies; and at length became so insolent and exorbitant in his demands, that they quarrelled. One evening, about nine o'clock, Mrs and Miss Dudleigh happened to be sitting in the drawingroom, alone-and the latter was pale with the agitation consequent on some recent quarrel with her mother; for the poor girl had been passionately reproaching her mother for her increasing attachment to liquor, under the influence of which she evidently was at that moment. Suddenly a voice was heard in the hall, and on the stairs, singing, or rather bawling, snatches of some comic song or other; the drawing room door was presently pushed open, and young Dudleigh, more than half intoxicated, made his appearance, in a slovenly evening dress.

"Madame ma mère-!" said he, staggering towards the sofa where his mother and sister were sitting"I-I must be supplied-I must, mother!"-he hiccuped, stretching towards her his right hand, and tapping the palm of it significantly with his left fingers.

"Pho-nonsense!-off to-to bed, young scape-grace!" replied his mother, drowsily-for the stupor of wine lay heavily on her.

"'Tis useless, madam-quite, I assure you!-money-money-money I must and will have !" said her son, striving to steady himself against a chair.

my-my-word-' good as my bond' -as the old governor says!-Mother," he continued in a louder tone, flinging his hat violently on the floor-"I must and WILL have money!"

"Henry-it's disgraceful-infamous-most infamous!" exclaimed Miss Dudleigh, with a shocked air; and raising her handkerchief to her eyes, she rose from the sofa, and walked hurriedly to the opposite end of the room, and sat down in tears. Poor girl! what a mother! what a brother!-the young man took the place she had occupied by her mother's side, and in a wheedling coaxing way, threw his arm round Mrs Dudleigh, hiccuping "mothergive me a cheque! do, please!—'tis the last time I'll ask you-for a twelvemonth to come!-and I owe L.500 that must be paid in a day or two!"

Come, mother!-will it do!-a lucky thought! the plate!-Mris a rare hand at this kind of thing! -a thousand or two would set you and me to rights in a twinkling!come, what say you ?" "Impossible, Harry!"- replied his mother, turning pale,-"'tis quite 'tis-'tis-out of the question!" "Pho! no such thing!-It must be done! why cannot it, ma'am?" enquired the young man earnestly. "Why, because--if you must know, sirrah! because it is ALREADY pawned!"-replied his mother, in a loud voice, shaking her hand at him with passion. Their attention was attracted at that moment towards the door, which had been standing a-jar -for there was the sound of some one suddenly fallen down. After an instant's pause, they all three walked to the door, and stood gazing horrorstruck at the prostrate figure of Mr DUDLEIGH!

He had been standing un perceived in the door-way-having entered the house only a moment or two after his son-during the whole of the disgraceful scene just described, almost petrified with grief, amazement, and horror-till he could bear it no longer, and fell down in an apoplectic fit. He had but that evening returned from abroad, exhausted with physical fatigue, and dispirited in mindfor while abroad, he had made a most disastrous move in the foreign funds, by which he lost upwards of sixty or seventy thousand pounds; and his negotiation scheme also turned out very unfortunately, and left him minus nearly as much more. He had hurried home, half dead with vexation and anxiety, to make instant arrangements for meeting the most pressing of his pecuniary engagements in England, apprehensive, from the gloomy tenor of his agent's letters to him while abroad, that his affairs were falling into confusion. Oh! what a heart-breaking scene had he to encounter-instead of the comforts and welcome of home!

stricken over him, on each side of the bed, endeavouring in vain to recall him to sensibility. I had scarce entered the room, before Mrs Dudleigh was carried away swooning in the arms of a servant. Mr Dudleigh was in a fit of apoplexy. He lay in a state of profound stupor, breathing stentoriously-more like snorting. I had him raised into nearly an upright position, and immediately bled him largely from the jugular vein. While the blood was flowing, my attention was arrested by the appearance of young Dudleigh; who was kneeling down by the bedside, his hands clasped convulsively together, and his swollen blood-shot eyes fixed on his father. "Father! father! father!" were the only words he uttered, and these fell quivering from his lips unconsciously.-Miss Dudleigh, who had stood leaning against the bedpost in stupified silence, and pale as a statue, was at length too faint to continue any longer in an upright posture, and was led out of the room.

Here was misery! Here was remorse!

I continued with my patient more than an hour, and was gratified at finding that there was every appearance of the attack proving a mild and manageable one. I prescribed suitable remedies, and left,-enjoining young Dudleigh not to quit his father for a moment, but to watch every breath he drew. He hardly seemed to hear me, and gazed in my face vacantly while I addressed him. I shook him gently, and repeated my injunctions; but all he could reply "Oh-doctor-we have killed

was

him!"

Her own health and spirits were manifestly suffering from the distressing scenes she had to endure. She told me, with energy, that she could sink into the earth, on reflect

ing that she was the daughter of such a mother, the sister of such a brother! [The Diary passes hastily over a fortnight, saying merely that Mr Dudleigh recovered more rapidly than could have been expected-and proceeds-]

Monday, June, 18-. While I was sitting beside poor Mr Dudleigh, this afternoon, feeling his pulse, and putting questions to him, which he was able to answer with tolerable distinctness, Miss Dudleigh came and whispered that her mother, who, though she had seen her husband frequently, had not spoken to him, or been recognised by him since his illness-was anxious then to come in, as she heard that he was perfect ly sensible. I asked him if he had any objection to see her; and he replied, with a sigh,-" No. Let her come in, and see what she has brought me to!" In a few minutes' time she was in the room. I observed Mr Dudleigh's eyes directed anxiously to the door before she entered; and the instant he saw her pallid features, and the languid exhausted air with which she advanced towards the bed, he lifted up his shaking hands, and beckoned towards her. His eyes filled with tears, to overflowing-and he attempted to speak -but in vain. She tottered to his side, and fell down on her knees; while he clasped her hands in his, kissed her affectionately, and both of them wept like children; as did young Dudleigh and his sister. That was the hour of full forgiveness and reconciliation! It was indeed touching scene. There lay the deeply injured father and husband, his grey hair grown long, during his absence on the continent, and his illness, combed back from his temples; his pale and fallen features exhibiting deep traces of the anguish he had borne. He gave one hand to his son and daughter, while the other continued grasped by Mrs Dudleigh.

a

"Oh, dear, dear husband!-Can you forgive us, who have so nearly broken your heart?"—she sobbed, kissing his forehead. He strove to reply, but burst into tears without being able to utter a word. Fearful that the prolonged excitement of such an interview might prove injurious, I gave Mrs Dudleigh a hint to with

draw-and left the room with her. She had scarcely descended the staircase, when she suddenly seized my arm, stared me full in the face, and burst into a fit of loud and wild laughter. I carried her into the first room I could find, and gave her all the assistance in my power. It was long, however, before she recovered. She continually exclaimed-" Oh, what a wretch I've been! What a vile wretch I've been !-and-he so kind and forgiving, too!"

As soon as Mr Dudleigh was sufficiently recovered to leave his bedroom-contrary to my vehemently expressed opinion-he entered at once on the active management of his affairs. It is easy to conceive how business of such an extensive and complicated character as his, must have suffered from so long an intermission of his personal superintendence-especially at such a critical conjuncture. Though his head-clerk was an able and faithful man, he was not at all equal to the overwhelming task which devolved upon him; and when Mr Dudleigh, the first day of his coming down stairs, sent for him, in order to learn the general aspect of his affairs, he wrung his hands despairingly, to find the lamentable confusion into which they had fallen, The first step to be taken, was the discovery of funds wherewith to meet some heavy demands which had been for some time clamorously asserted. What, however, was to be done? His unfortunate speculations in the foreign funds had made sad havoc of his floating capital, and further fluctuations in the English funds during his illness had added to his losses. As far as ready money went, therefore, he was comparatively penniless. All his resources were so locked up, as to be promptly available only at ruinous sacrifices; and yet he must procure many thousands within a few days-or he trembled to contemplate the consequences.

"Call in the money I advanced on mortgage of my Lord -'s property," said he.

"We shall lose a third, sir, of what we advanced, if we do," replied the clerk.

"Can't help it, sir-must have money-and that instantly-call it in, sir. The clerk, with a sigh, entered his orders accordingly.

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