restrained by four strong men (the medium being incapable). Finding itself thus baulked, it twisted off its legs, which almost went through the ceiling owing to the great force with which they were projected upwards. It then threw itself on its back, and shuffled along the floor towards the door, but, finding it could not obtain egress, returned to the centre of the room, and was making strenuous efforts to recover its legs, when one of the party, getting alarmed, turned on the gas; in a moment the commotion ceased; and so the séance ended.

I will add nothing by way of comment, except this, that the answers obtained from the various spirits seem to me to be even more sensible and important than any obtained at any séance recorded in the annals of spiritrapping-I beg your pardon, celestial telegraphy.

A SEQUEL.

THE SPIRITS.

Lately on a midnight dreary,

Sitting by the fire so cheery,

Listening to the storm that beat and blew
With blustering gust and roar ;
While I sat serenely smoking,
Suddenly there came a knocking,

As of some one rudely poking,

Poking at my chamber door

"Tis some dirty ill-bred spirit

Knocking at my chamber door—

Only that and nothing more."

But to face the audacious knocker

I seized the shining poker,

While my heart went jumping, thumping,

As I never felt before;

For through the storm's loud shrieking

I heard high voices speaking

'Tis some thief's ghost that is sneaking On the outside of the door

Some vile spirit entrance seeking

By the keyhole of the door

This perhaps and nothing more.

Hesitating then no longer,
Presently my legs grew stronger,
And, brandishing the poker,
I strode towards the door;

When, without one word of fable,

The ponderous parlour table

Marched as fast as it was able

Right across the parlour floor;

Danced across the room, and then assumed

Its post beside the door

Which is true, and something more.

Outside louder grew the knockings,

Till I shook within my stockings,

And then there came a thundering bang,

Far louder than before;

While the ponderous parlour table

Danced as fast as it was able,
Kicking up a noise like Babel,
Which I could not well explore;
Let my legs be firm a moment,
And this mystery explore—

'Tis a drunk man, nothing more.

For now I well remember,

In the dark days of December,
Full many a drouthy crony
Proceeds from door to door-
Pouring forth the flowing whisky,
And, thereby getting frisky,
Plays many a curious plisky,
And raises many a splore—
It may be spirit rappers

On t'other side the door

Only that and nothing more.

So pulling up my breeches,

With many tugs and hitches,

I turned the key within the lock
And opened wide the door,
When arose a mighty bawling,
And a sudden stick came mauling,
That sent me quickly sprawling,
Sprawling on the parlour floor;
And I said that spirit rapping

I very much deplore

I think I rather swore.

And, shouting for a bobby,

Till my voice rang through the lobby,

I made efforts to collect myself

Lying spilt upon the floor;

But it's a fact outrageous

That no guardian beak courageous,

With whiskers so umbrageous,
Hears, however loud you roar;
So, assisted by the poker,

I crawled towards the door

Darkness there and nothing more.

76

THE PENNY DAILIES.

I HAVE now before me a dingy old newspaper called the Glasgow Journal, published 30th October 1752. Its size, like the character of its contents, is very moderate. It consists of two folio leaves, each measuring about 18 inches long by 12 broad; it contains no "leaders," which I consider a great improvement on our present system; but is wholly made up of very small paragraphs of very small news, somewhat ancient before it reached the printers' hands, and quaint medleys of advertisements. The following announcement, however, concerning the movements of a certain "German Lairdie," who, notwithstanding the magnificent estate to which his dynasty had been called, seems to have left his heart behind him in the original "kail-yardie," is full of a meaning and importance for these islands, which we in these later times have been able to make out and understand in the light of the nation's history