Complaining that the smoke opprest His lungs, and settled on his chest. (Hence, by the way, I often think

The spleen that haunts our London gapers--When so much smoke we daily drink,

No wonder that we feel the vapours!)--

He said his spirit seemed to long

To change the dull air for the breeze,

And the loud city's reeking throng

For the green turf and whispering trees.

"Twas then the zenith of the spring,

(The second in this clime they'd known,)
Blithely the West Wind plumed his wing,
And merrily the blue sky shone.
In short, it was that sort of weather
We rarely have two days together.

Well! when the weather chanced to blunder
Into this sort of French effrontery,
Chang grew quite obstinate---no wonder !---
To make the most of it in the country.

So Hodges hired a place of Claridge,
'Twas pretty, and not far from town;
And one fine morning, in their carriage,
Our little family went down.

Between two books-that yet to charm you,

And that which now is all but over, Reader, once more, the muse to arm you With caution, condescends to hover.

Some time ago, I gave due warning
Of an infringement on my rights;*
Since then, I hear, the impostors scorning
Justice, continue to be-sights!

'Tis well!--their fraud shall yet be thwarted—
Fortune ne'er smiles upon the cheating-
My Twins must give-they 're so supported—
The rival candidates a beating.

Meanwhile, forgive--if I once more

Remind you they're the Independents;
Oh! mix them not, I must implore---
Mix them not up with the defendants.

Hear me, ye pseudo Twins, I'll ne'er
Submit to your coarse imitation;
Know, I can drive you to despair-
And note the scheme in preparation !

Note, if you push--for those I sing of,
Your wish to be mistaken further,

* See the commencement of Book ii. Chap. 2.

I'll make a common thief my Ching of---
And lead my Chang into a murther.

So, ye young rascals, I exhort you

No more as my Twins to exhibit;

Or, spurious Ching, I will transport you,

And you, false Chang, shall taste the gibbet.

We think we now to our conclusion

May glide--nor meet with more confusion.

BOOK THE FOURTH.