'Of what value would your chivalric generosity be to me, if I did not receive as of right the honour you have won?' 'Well, there is something in that, to be sure.' The return you stipulated for shall be amply rendered. You are, I know, embarked in a nobler enterprise than ever cannon championed, or sword''Bosh! humbug! You beat your father himself for fine phrases. Plainer words would more forcibly impress me.' 'Well, then, you are endeavouring to unravel and defeat a vile plot which touches not only your father's character, but his life.' I did not go on deck again till, the tide serving, the Scout went into harbour. Le Renard, in attempting to do so, grounded between the pierheads, and had to be lightened of her guns and stores before she could be berthed. That night I slept, as did Webbe, at an inn or hotel in the Royal Square, a locality which Copley's painting of the death of Major Pierson must have made familiar to many readers. Harry Webbe left me soon after breakfast, for the confessed purpose of sunning his new, but far from 'blushing' honours in Miss Wilson's smiles. He had been gone some three or four hours when a printed slip or proof of the Gazette or Chronique de Jersey-I forget the exact title of the only newspaper, I believe, then published in the island-was sent up to Messieurs les Officiers du Scout, with the editor's compliments, and a polite request that the said messieurs would be pleased to correct any error of fact that might | have inadvertently slipped into the flaming narrative, headed-Combat Glorieux entre le Scout, Lettre de Marque Anglaise, et Le Renard, Brick de Guerre Français: Héroisme du Jeune Capitaine Anglais, Henri Webbe.' not he delivered the message I charged him withnamely, that if the libel was published, William Linwood would, upon principle, break every bone in the editorial body, or what other persuasive he had recourse to, I cannot say; enough, that the paragraph did not appear. It greatly annoyed me, nevertheless, by shewing the extent and working of the folly I had committed; and a haunting fear grew upon me that I should prove unequal to the duty I had taken upon myself; that I was too volatile, glib, rash! How could one who had been fooled by a poor creature like Harry Webbe, hope to hold his own with the astute conspirators I might have to cope with? Then the non-arrival of Captain Webbe irritated me; and so especially did the growing coolness of his son. I could scarcely obtain a minute's speech of the fellow, and any hint of a wish to be introduced to Miss Wilson, sent him off like a bullet from a gun. Did he, judging of me by his own craven instincts, fear I should betray him to her whose favour he had declared was his sole motive in wishing to acquire, vicariously, a reputation for homicidal heroism, to quote his own copper-gilt gibberish? At all events, see, converse with the young lady I would-displease, anger, enrage him as my doing so might. It was not difficult to gratify that whim. I obtained her address of the waiter who posted his letters: Miss Wilson, at Madame Dupré's, near the Third Tower.' Martello towers dot-one mile apart-the whole circumference of Jersey, and to the Third Tower was a pleasant three-mile walk from St Helier, on the road to St Aubin-a village near the further extremity of the bay of that name. I could introduce myself as Webbe's friend; pretend that I expected to find him there had called, in fact, by his invitation. He would never dare to challenge the deception. So planned, so done. Watching an opportunity when Master Webbe was busily engaged on board the Scout, I hastened off in the direction of the Third Tower; and in something less than an hour, was quietly seated with Madame Dupré and Miss Wilson in the front parlour of the former's neat and pleasant domicile. My reception was a friendly one, and much abated the choler which raged in my breast against Harry Webbe, proving, as it did, that he must have spoken favourably of me to his charmer and her ancient companion, who, altogether unpractised in the conventional ways of what is understood by society, thought it the simplest thing in life that the acquaintance of their friend should introduce himself in the manner I had. Madame Dupré seemed to be a good-natured, lively, bustling body, notwithstanding her age, which could not be far short of seventy; uneducated, but speaking both French and English-the latter best-at least "In signal contrast with the heroic conduct of M. more intelligibly to me-the French of France, as Henri Webbe, was the dastard behaviour of one taught me by Laborde, not enabling my unaccustomed William Linwood, who, excusing himself to M. Dowl-ear to distinguish understandingly the French elements ing, second of the Scout, under the pleas, that he was only a passenger, and, moreover, a coward upon principle (un lâche par principe), when the action was about to commence, skulked off to bed.' Although not one of 'Messieurs les Officiers du Scout,' I took the liberty of running my eye over the proof, and much amused was I at the editor's magniloquent exaggeration of the very modest facts, so far as I, alias Henri Webbe, was concerned, till I came to the concluding paragraph-this: Pleasant reading, upon my word, I mentally ejaculated. This precious paragraph-which will of course go the round of the English papers-will give my relatives a delightful notion of my fitness for a mission confided to my courage! Very true, unquestionably, that I have made a stupendous ass of myself; still, I must stop that game at any hazard; and I jumped up with the intention of sallying forth to the printing-office, and thrashing the publisher within an inch of his life. Fortunately, young Webbe returned at the moment, in great elation of spirit from his interview with the divine Maria. I shewed him the offensive paragraph: he immediately volunteered to prevent its publication, and went off at once for that purpose. Whether or which no doubt exist in the island patois. There was no need to inquire if such a skinshrivelled, dumpy, bundle of a woman was a relative of the fair, elegant, beautiful Maria Wilson; a most fascinating person, though, as I soon discovered, of but ordinary attainments, and quite untaught in the accomplishments which are supposed essential to the perfect development of womanly grace and charm. No wonder that a fair, healthy complexion, luxuriant hair of a golden brown, blue eyes of unfathomable depth, a most delicate nose, sweet lovable lips, and a distracting figure, should have taken poor Webbe captive, or that he was jealous of permitting bacheloreyes to look upon his precious treasure-trove. It was not, however, the clear complexion, golden brown hair, blue eyes, delicate nose, lovable lips, and distracting figure, separately or combined, which, the instant I saw Maria Wilson, interested, fascinated me -an interest, fascination, distinct from love, or the dawning of that sentiment. I had been, young as I was, too frequently exposed to the influence of those charms-though never, perhaps, so harmoniously combined to be in danger of sudden enslavement by such weapons. No; it was the peculiar expression of those deep blue eyes that enthralled me-the soulshadow, as it were, which from one moment to another flitted over, and softened rather than dimmed the bright youthful face: a most peculiar sweetly-sad expression, which I was positive I had seen before, though where or when I vainly for hours, days, weeks, strove to recall, albeit as certain I had observed, felt it before, as of my own life! An enthusiastic, romantic maiden too, as Harry Webbe had intimated; full to overflowing of that everlasting fight between the Scout and Le Renard, and could, or at least would talk of nothing else. I fancy the annoyance and vexation my countenance and manner must have expressed at hearing young Webbe's fabulous nothings so outrageously monstered, induced the gay-hearted girl-for gay-hearted she was, spite of the sunshine broken before spoken of-to prolong the entertainment for my especial behoof. The ultimate effect was, however, widely different from what either of us contemplated. The avidity of the human heart for flattery, even in its best samples, is so subtle and eager, that it will detect and appropriate the intoxicating incense from the most apparently unpromising sources. Quite natural, therefore, that the young lady's fine reading of the narrative published in the Jersey paper, her vibrating voice and musical intonation giving to the bombastic rodomontade the sound of true eloquence, surprised, interested, flattered such a feather-headed youngster as I; that my imaginary plumes fluttered, dilated like a peacock's; for was it not really me-not Harry Webbe-she was glorifying so delightfully? Of course, I was quite conscious all the while that the repeated rallying by the young hero of the fainting Scouts, the cutting his way through Heaven knows how many Frenchmen, to get at that unfortunate Captain Le Moine, and end the desperate, doubtful contest by one stroke of his victorious sword, was all bosh, humbug! Still, what slight foundation there was for such a fantastic superstructure of lies, referred to me unquestionably: I felt, moreover, and an extraordinary elation of spirit accompanied the conviction, that the lady's regard was for the imaginary Webbe-not the real one-for me, in fact! So reconciled, consequently, did I become to Maria Wilson's warrior-enthusiasm, so swiftly did my impulsive temperament sympathise therewith, that, when suddenly passing from inflated puerility to lofty, masculine eloquence, she burst out with: Ye mariners of England Who guard our native seas, Whose flag has braved a thousand years Your glorious standard launch again, I leaped at the last lines out of my chair, and with eyes filled with tears, fiercely flourished Madame Dupre's parlour-poker round my head, to that lady's wild alarm for her chimney glass and ornaments. So easily excitable is boyish enthusiasm by vanity, and a beautiful girl! Madame Dupré repaid me for the fright with interest. 'Pray, Mr Linwood,' said she, do you know de name of de young man-what-my good hid himself under de bed when de guns begun to fire?' Wasn't I brought up with a round turn? Didn't my face burn like red-hot iron beneath Maria Wilson's searching, astonished look, called forth, no doubt, by my conscience-stricken aspect, as she must have interpreted it? 'I hear of him,' continued the horrid old woman, in St Helier; but not de name of de brave youth. Do you know it, sare?' Before I could convert the choking rage in my throat to articulate sounds, there was a knock at the door. 'It is Harry!' exclaimed Maria Wilson, springing to the door and opening it. 'Ha! you also, sir!' she added. 'Do come in.' Not only young Harry, but old Harry was at the door; Captain Kirke Webbe as well as his son! And what an astonished start-what a pallor of the young fellow's phiz-what a dark scowl upon the old one's, as they caught sight of me! 'You-you here, Linwood!' stammered Webbe the younger. 'How is this, sir?' ejaculated Webbe the elder, glancing fiercely at his son. Only for a moment did Kirke Webbe's mask slip aside. 'Why,' he added, with a smile pretty nearly compelled to cordiality-why need I ask? William Linwood must ever be a welcome guest with the friends of Harry Webbe!' The two gentlemen then sat down, and Captain Webbe strove to bring about a natural, indifferent conversation. It could not be done: we were all dumbfounded—in some sort panic-stricken. I, for one, by the discovery 'that the penniless wench, Maria Wilson, or Bilson,' Kirke Webbe had spoken of so contemptuously to me, was a young person well known to him, and evidently regarded with-what shall I say-affection, esteem? no, with respect, deference ! Madame Dupré was also an old and intimate friend of his, there could be no doubt. What complicated knave's game was the man playing? A question I had no time to pursue. Captain Webbe invited me to accompany him forthwith back to St Helier; the arrangements he had made in the affair I knew of necessitating immediate action. I acquiesced; bade adieu to the charming Maria, Madame Dupré, and Harry Webbe, and set forth with the captain of the Scout. He was the first to break silence as we pushed on for St Helier. 'You have acted nobly, Linwood,' said he, 'to my son, who has told me all. He knew it would be quite absurd to attempt to throw the dust in my eyes, which has, it seems, so completely blinded those who do not know him as well as I do. Well, it is a gift that makes him rich, and you none the poorer!' 'I am not so sure of that, Captain Webbe.' 'Tut, tut. You will have abundant opportunities for establishing a reputation for courage, I promise you. The soft-hearted boy has set his soul upon espousing Maria Wilson' 'Or Bilson,' I interrupted. Ah, yes, I remember. Since, however, I saw you, I have had a conversation with a relative of hers in London, which has altogether changed my opinion of the proposed match, and I feel obliged to you for enabling him to gain the lady's consent.' 'Under a false pretence!' 'Yes; but that is nothing. He will make a kind husband; and the most romantic maidens, when transformed into practical wives, soon shake from their memories the sentimental cobwebs which enthralled their nonage. But you and I have more pressing matters to attend to. I leave you now by the First Tower, and Jersey with you, for St Malo, if possible, if not, for Avranches or Granville, to-morrow evening." 'What is to prevent us from going direct to St Malo?' 'Only His Britannic Majesty's sloop of war, Pelican, Captain Maples, which is, or was, cruising off that port. Here,' added Webbe, 'is my written address: "Le Capitaine Verdun, chez M. Josse, Aubergiste, St Catherine's Bay." I shall expect you there to-morrow evening by five o'clock at latest.' I promised to be punctual; and we soon afterwards separated. Is Le Capitaine Verdun within ?' I inquired, the next evening, of a stout, well-dressed seaman, who was standing by the door of the public-house pointed out to me as that kept by Antoine Josse. 'Le voici-I am he,' was the prompt reply. "The deuce you are! Why, yes, that voice, andBy Heaven, it is Webbe!' The captain of the Scout laughed obstreperously. 'Not an unskilful metamorphosis, eh?' he said. 'This black wig, and dyeing my light whiskers of the same colour, make a strange difference in a man's appearance.' That is true, indeed! This accounts, then, for the green tinge of your whiskers?' 'Yes, the colouring liquid leaves that tinge. Where are your things?' We are I pointed to a laden porter at some distance off, 'All right. Tell him to bring them here. off in less than an hour.' 'By what means,' said I, upon rejoining Webbe, 'do you propose getting to St Malo? I can see the French coast plainly enough, but not the vessel that is to take us there.' 'You soon shall. First, however, let me impress it upon your mind, that you are an American youtha native, suppose we say, of Boston, United States. In that character, your atrocious French accent will cause no surprise. I-please never for one moment to forget-am Jules Renaudin, captain of the French corsair, L'Espiègle.' 'What!' I exclaimed, 'you, Captain Renaudin of L'Espiègle?' 'Just so; and if you take this glass, you will make out that gem of a cutter lying in the shadow of the French coast, in a line with those two sugar-loaf-shaped rocks. A boat you may also observe coming towards us, in obedience to the signal flying from my unsuspicious friend Josse's flagstaff.' I looked up to said flagstaff: two English jacks were flying, one on a blue, the other on a white ground. I was downright 'mazed,' as we used to say in the Wight, and for the first time a complete sense of the perilous nature of the adventure I was engaged in, of the desperate, lawless character of the man with whom I was associated, by whom I was to be guided through that adventure, flashed upon me! It was too late, however, to retract-would be insanity to shew distrust, hesitation: the die was cast, and I must stand the hazard of the throw. The French boat reached the shore; our trifling luggage was thrown into it; Captain Jules Renaudin and I followed; and after a long, weary pull, we stood upon the deck of L'Espiègle, a cutter-rigged clipper, mounting four guns, and manned by as fierce a set of desperadoes, judging by their looks, as one would wish to set eyes upon; yet all, I saw in a moment, effectively curbed under the iron rule of Le Capitaine Renaudin! The wind, though light, was fair for St Malo; and L'Espiègle was quickly slipping through the water in that direction. 'If this breeze last,' remarked Captain Jules Renaudin to me, we shall be in St Malo by day-dawn, supposing always that the Pelican does not snap us by the way.' WORKMANSHIP IN AMERICA. Workmanship in America bears all the marks of haste and imperfection; has no appearance of finish or minute care about it. The marble-veneered palaces of New York often come down by the run. The clippers of New England sail well, but leak and damage cargo. They are splendid models, but slim in construction. Twenty-five thousand miles of railways intersect the American continent-they cross swamps and mountains, the St Lawrence and the Mississippi-but their frail tressel-work is continually coming down; their bridges are crazy, their roads often unballasted, their whole apparatus flimsy. I need not dwell on river and lake steamers; a prudent man makes his will before he goes on board. And so it goes on, down to the minutest article of domestic use throughout this country. There is not a lock that catches, not a hinge that turns; knives will not cut, and matches will not light. The doors will not shut, the windows will not open; and all this is made more striking and provoking by its contrast with the pretension to finish and refinement. You sit down on a fine velvet sofa, and are startled by coming down on a spring as hard as a cricket-ball. The hotel whose doors are creaking and windows gaping, is boat, on which you are snagged or blown up, is gilt and gilt and carpeted like a palace; and the Mississippi steampainted, and goes twenty miles an hour; you cannot sail to destruction in greater luxury or at greater speed.— Stirling's Letters from the Slave States. STANZA S. WHEN the trees were green in summer, My heart beat loud and fast the while, The leaves were turning red and sere, No leaves are on the forest trees, The flowers will blossom soon again, And summer in my heart of hearts M. E. S. CAUTION AS TO LOFTY BUILDINGS. Towers, spires, and obelisks of extravagantly great height are occasionally erected in England, with apparently an entire forgetfulness of the danger to which they happily rare with us, insomuch that one or two generations are subjected by earthquakes. Tremors of the surface are sometimes pass without the experience of any such phenomena; but it should be kept in mind that they have occurred, of such severity as to endanger lofty buildings, and therefore may occur again. I sometimes feel inclined to ask if it was wise to build the Victoria Tower of the new palace at Westminster to so great an elevation as three hundred feet, with a great archway passing through the base, for no longer ago than February 1750, there was a shock so much felt at that spot as to make the counsellors in the court of King's Bench, in Westminster Hall, believe that the building over their heads was about to fail. The shake of November 1755, moreover, agitated many lakes in our island; and that of August 1816 twisted a steeple at Inverness, which long remained a striking monument of a power in nature which in our country we are but too apt to overlook and slight.-Correspondent. Printed and Published by W. and R. CHAMBERS, 47 Paternoster Row, LONDON, and 339 High Street, EDINBURGH. Also sold by WILLIAM ROBERTSON, 23 Upper Sackville Street, DUBLIN, and all Booksellers. No. 193. OF POPULAR LITERATURE Science and Arts. CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1857. NEGLECTED SUGGESTIONS AND PREDICTIONS. MUCH has been said on these subjects lately, without a hint being given in any quarter towards a rationale of the matter, though that lies, one would think, but a short space out of the highway of thought. It is quite true, and 'pity 'tis 'tis true,' that official persons often slight warnings which prove to have been well grounded, and which, if taken, might have averted much evil. 'Pity 'tis 'tis true,' also, that per- | sons invested with administrative functions receive from outsiders many suggestions as to possible improvements, which it might have been well they had adopted. The greatest pity of all, however-and here lies the explanation of the whole matter-is, that official and administrative persons are not endowed by nature with miraculous wisdom, wherewith to distinguish a true warning when it is given, or a certain improvement when it is suggested. They are, unfortunately, ordinary human beings, who can only judge of such things on the same principles as the rest of their species. Such things are usually of very doubtful character. Their proving fallacious would be a serious inconvenience and discomfort. There is a responsibility as to the acceptance of absurdities, as well as the rejection of truths. It is surely, then, far from inexcusable that they are, in general, treated simply upon a theory of their probable worth, and overlooked wherever there is not a very strong case made out in their favour. On the occurrence of the late frightful outbreak in India, it was certainly very startling to find in a book of Sir Charles Napier, published in 1853, an earnest warning as to the ticklish condition of the native troops a prediction, in short, of this very outbreak, on the condition that certain steps were not taken to avert it. Well, here is a complete instance of a truc warning slighted, and dismal consequences arising. Yet it is only fair to go back to 1853, and inquire whether the reputation of Sir Charles Napier for grave wisdom was such as to make it culpable for administrators then to neglect what he said. It is with no disrespect to a brave soldier, that we must pronounce that his reputation was not of this character. There were a few other voices in India, however, that spoke for years to the same purport as Sir Charles Napier; and it now appears very unlucky that these were not better listened to. But is it not true that there are peculiar opinions on all sorts of subjects-that hundreds of such opinions are daily PRICE 1d. neglected with perfect impunity, because they are only the whims of individuals, and never come true? The opinions in question about the Bengal native troops were not those of the great mass of officers connected with India, and presumably able to judge. Would it have been allowable for those at the head of affairs to open their ears to a small minority, and neglect the general opinion? Can we now say that this would at the time have appeared wise and commendable, when it inferred a grand change of policy, involving its own peculiar hazards, as all changes of policy do? Would it even have been practicable, governed as India is by a body representing a vast multitude of persons? It can only be necessary to put these questions. As to their answers, there can be no hesitation and no variance. The treatment of inventions, discoveries, and suggestions of improvement, is ruled by precisely the same principle. Now and then, it turns out that an invention or suggestion, which has been slighted in official quarters, is in reality a thing of genuine value and importance; and then there is an outcry about the inveterate opposition presented by official persons to all ideas which come to them from persons out of doors. To justify this outcry, it would be necessary to shew that the great bulk, at least, of the aforesaid inventions and suggestions are valuable, and yet invariably rejected. But the fact is-as all persons acquainted with official business only too well knowthat such inventions and suggestions are, in all except a few rare instances, of no value whatever. To prove one part of this position, it is only necessary to recall how numberless are the inventions patented at a cost sufficient to test the sincerity of the inventor, and which are never afterwards heard of as practically carried out or proving of any use. To prove the other part to men of business, it is enough to remind them how often they receive suggestions about matters connected with their own affairs, which they find it impossible to turn to any account. It is very possible that actual administrators sometimes become too con. servative. But obviously, the tendency of the frequent obtrusion of outside ideas that prove of no service, must be to create a general hopelessness as to such ideas; and with a person fully occupied with his stated duties, such frequent obtrusion cannot but have an exhausting effect upon the patience. A quick cordial receptivity of new ideas is therefore scarcely to be expected amongst official persons. The actual history of outside ideas with official persons we believe to be simply this. They come in such shoals, that a careful study of each is nearly impossible. A large proportion-probably two-thirds -suggest obvious alterations of plan, which have been long familiar to the office, and found impracticable. Another set are violent and hazardous changes, inferring great blame in case of failure. A third set are so like the dreams of maniacs, that they are at once set aside. As a rule, the outside suggester or inventor appears to the actual administrator as a person labouring under such disadvantages from his want of knowledge of the conditions under which any change is necessarily to be made, that his likelihood of suggesting a real improvement which actual administrators had failed to think of, is little above nil. A remarkable improvement in one of the public departments was suggested, and urged a few years ago by an outsider of extraordinary sagacity, and, being adopted, it has undoubtedly conduced immensely to the comfort of individuals, and the facility of mercantile transactions. The suggester or expositor, as he should rather be called, of this novelty-a man whose name will never be mentioned in our history without respect was appropriately, though not very promptly, rewarded by a high position in the office which he improved; yet we have reason to believe that this very person, with the greatest natural liberality of mind towards new things, has the usual experience of official persons regarding suggestions of improvement from external sources. The bulk of them are totally useless, and only occupy good time to no purpose. There is a constant movement in the office towards better and better plans; but in nearly every point it comes from the persons practically conversant with the office, its actual conditions, and its susceptibilities of useful change. man of true genius and originality will occasionally have to complain that a useful invention was for some time pressed in vain upon public attention. KIRKE WEBBE, THE PRIVATEER CAPTAIN. CHAPTER VII. WELL acquainted as I was with the French language And to that instinctive belief, as you term it, must, I suppose, be also referred the surprise I have felt at noticing that the crew of L'Espiègle are, to all appearance, skilful and hardy sailors?' 'No doubt; since why a man born at Brest should not, other things being equal, prove as skilful and hardy as he who was born at Portsmouth, would puzzle one to explain. Other things, however, not being equal, as a rule, the seamen of France are not so hardy, so continuously hardy, as the British.' have a reason for the faith that is in me.' 'Have the kindness to explain: I should like to 'Willingly. If you or I were to take a heavy pick, shovel, and wheelbarrow, some fine hot day, and work with might and main in a stiff soil, at the foundation of a house, we should find it to be exhausting work, which only the most robust fellows could sustain with spirit for any length of time. Well, the rapid working of a frigate or liner's heavy guns in a close fight, where no particular aim need be taken, is harder, more exhausting labour than that; and French, Italian, Austrian seamen are not, as races, physically equal to the work, in comparison with Anglo-Saxon sailors. The fire of a French ship-of-war during the first ten minutes or quarter of an hour of a close rapid fight is frequently equal to that of a British ship-of-war: after that, although the foreigner's courage may be as untamed as ever, his muscles, as a general rule, The same physiological fact governs in respect of begin to yield, his fire slackens, and the battle is lost. stubborn holding out during long-continued stress of weather, or— Ha! I see her now. All right, so far.' The subject here treated is, after all, but part of a larger one involving the history of all new things in their struggles for the acknowledgment of their worth. Novelties in human thought, in scientific discovery, and in mechanical application of the arts, have all to go through a course of difficulties before they fully assert themselves, or are generally accepted. A new man of genius has to undergo a probation before he can clear himself out from the herd of pretenders with whom he is at first liable to be confounded. It is wholly idle, as appears to us, to rail and declaim as if there were some perverse conspiracy against good new things and good new men, when it is clearly evident that all such are acknowledged as soon as ever their worth can be truly ascertained, and that in the process of ascertaining their worth lies the only real cause of delay. Undoubtedly, while it so happens that there is an almost indefinite number of chances-speaking speculatively-against one, that To enable the reader to understand Captain the novelty will be naught, the generality of men, be Renaudin's abrupt break-off in his dissertation upon they official or not, will hesitate to give it even that the comparative naval prowess of British and French consideration without which its making way is impos- delivering it, he had been anxiously peering through seamen, it must be explained, that whilst he was sible. They refuse to be troubled upon such a poor a night-glass at a distant speck upon the darkening prospect of benefit. Till human perspicacity is such horizon, which interested him much more than the that it can criticise and weigh the prospects of every-topic he was carelessly discussing. A glint of moonthing at a glance, novelties will have this fate to submit to. These remarks are not, of course, designed to excuse any special noted case of the slighting of either a sound prediction or an obviously useful improvement. Let all such be unsparingly denounced; we merely aim at shewing how it is, in the actual relations of things, that a Cassandra will sometimes be seen going about giving out warnings which no one believes, and that a light had at last enabled him to decide that the said speck was not the Pelican sloop-of-war. "The capture, not many months since, of the American brig-of-war, Argus, by that same Pelican,' I remarked, after a while, 'was a gallant exploit, was it not?' 'Well, yes; but the Argus was overmatched, though nothing like so hopelessly as the Macedonian in her action with the United States, which Yankees prance and crow so much about. Captain Carden was a |