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such as the two we have sketched, so in indi- |sought to secure for it splendor, independ vidual portraiture St. Simon is proverbially ence, and a substantial share in the exercise great. From the vast series of whole lengths, of the legislative and sovereign power. He three-quarters, kit-kats, and profiles, to be forgot that the French noblesse was now only found in his portfolio, we may refer, in the a court noblesse, and little suspected that, limited space at command, to his portrait of five-and-twenty years after his death, the the chief-president, Harlay—that oracle in most chivalric of the order would repudiate the world of parliament and belles-lettres. Up- their ancient idol, and be paying court to the right and immaculate as he was reputed, he cause of revolution. He was intolerant of was, by St. Simon's account, "a man of no the Villeroy and D'Antin class of dull, servile actual honor; without morality in private, courtiers, but without anticipating the speedy without integrity except in public, without advent of quite another type- the Mirabeaux, humanity in either case; in short, a consum- Lafayettes, Lameths, and that most eccentric mate hypocrite; without faith, without of democrat nobles, his own descendant, the equity, without God, without soul, a cruel apostle of Socialism. In one respect, however, husband, a brutal father, a tyrannical brother, St. Simon did magnify his order a friend to none but himself; naturally ma-ing it, by his literary achievements, with the lignant; delighted to insult, injure, and crush greatest writer it has ever produced wieldothers, and on no occasion losing a chance of ing in its cause the loftiest, most independgratifying that delight. A volume might be ent, honest, vigorous, and brilliant of pens; compiled of his sallies, infinitely trenchant, and thus St. Simon, duke and peer, at whom and overflowing with wit-wit naturally ap-his contemporaries siniled, is classed to-day, plied, and with a masterly caution against in- by the most critical of his countrymen, bevolving its employer in trouble. In appear- tween Molière and Bossuet-a little below ance, Harlay was a little man, strong, but them, it is granted, yet between them, notmeagre, with a lozenge-shaped face, a large withstanding- and is there greeted as one aquiline nose, fine eyes, eloquent and pene-of the foremost glories of France. trating, which only regarded you by stealth,

but which, fixed on a client or a magistrate,

in honor

walked three times (with her hair dishevelled) round cucumber-beds infested by caterpillars, the latter would all die! Ancient herbalists recommended the pulp of the cucumber beaten with milk for inflammations of the eyes.

were enough to make him sink into the earth." THERE was a curious old superstition that Of such a man, St. Simon tells with palpable woman should not be allowed to touch Cucuzest any of the current anecdotes which il-BERS, when growing, as the yellow, bell-like lustrate his assumed or real character. This, flowers of these tender vegetables would wither for instance, of his mot addressed to an ill-if handled by females; and that if a woman mannered duchess, who had styled Harlay, in his hearing, "that old monkey," and who, having a cause to be tried before him soon afterwards, and in delight of his promptly deciding it in her favor, hastened to overwhelm him with grateful acknowledgments. Tartary is thought to be the native country "Madame," impressively replied the presi- of the cucumber, but it is said that no modern dent, in the hearing of an admiring circle, so travellers have met with it anywhere insoon as the flood of her rhetoric was at ebb- digenous. It was early known in England; "Madame, I am enchanted that an old then lost during the Yorkist and Lancastrian monkey should have it in his power to oblige wars; but restored in the reign of Henry VIII. an old ape." Or again, when Bussy Rabu-The cool and juicy cucumber of Egypt stands tim's married daughter interrupted her hus- first among the vegetables band while giving evidence before Harlay which was so bitterly lamented by the Israel-spoiling the husband's orderly statement ites in the barren wilderness. by a garrulous purenthesis of "words, words, words" the president, after a protracted show of patience, mildly turned to the gentleman with the question: "Is madame your wife, sir?" Monsieur affirmed it, in some surprise. "How I grieve for you, sir!" exclaimed Harlay, with look and tones of inexpressible compassion, as he turned on his heel, and left the happy pair to chew the cud of his bitter fancy. St. Simon's chronicles are a copious repertory of such sayings and doings; at times highly piquant, and usually very French.

His exertions to elevate the position of the noblesse were strenuous and unremitting. He

the want of

From Poems by Mary C. Hume.
So she nursed

Her sorrow, as young mourners do,
When unto life and sorrow new.
For storm-clouds, in life's early spring,
Can on no "wild west wind" take wing,
But break in showers: in after years
We learn the wastefulness of tears,
And summon all our energies
To sweep our care-cloud laden skies;
And thus full many a joy we glean,

Like autumn sunbeams, brighter even
Than summer's, lent those clouds between,
Which rather deck than shroud our heaven.

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From Eliza Cook's Journal:

STRETCHED at full length on two sofas, which occupied opposite corners of an immense fireplace, were two young men, busily engaged smoking from long Turkish pipes. "What is the matter with you, Alfred? You are not saying a word.'

Nothing in the world. I was waiting for you to break silence."

"Then we might have waited long enough for each other."

"I was thinking of a most delightful adventure."

"Well, then, you might as well think aloud."

"With all my heart, only that you may think I play somewhat too conspicuous a part in it."

"Pray begin; I promise you only to believe half."

"It is now about a week since I received a card of invitation to a ball. The name was wholly unknown to me, so I lighted my pipe with the note. But stay; I must fill it now. There. And now to proceed:

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"Some days after, feeling rather depressed and a little out of sorts, I thought a little gay society would do me no harm. By my faith,' said I to myself, I ought to have gone to this ball. And a moment after I said again, I wish I had gone to this ball. IIa! there is actually a scrap of the invitation left; and it is for this evening. What is to prevent my going? Accordingly I dressed, and that, be it remarked, en passant, for reasons best known to my tailor and myself, was a matter of no slight difficulty. My toilet once made, such as it was, everything else went on smoothly enough. I sent the porter for a cab to take me to the appointed house. You know the house-that magnificent one in the Rue St. Honoré, in front of which are those two splendid statues, before which I have so often stood lost in admiration. I entered, was announced, and could see that my name made a great sensation. I made my way to the lady of the house to pay my respects. Beside her was a young lady, evidently her daughter, who blushed deeply, and appeared somewhat embarrassed as I approached. In a few moments, there being no listeners near us, she whispered quickly to me

"Be sure you do not forget that it was Ernest gave you an introduction.'

"Thereupon she left me, and joined a lady who had just entered the room.

"Not to forget that it was Ernest gave me the introduction! But who and what was this Ernest? Why had he given me an introduction?

"As I was puzzling over it all, I was accosted by a stout gentleman

"You are taking nothing, sir. The refreshment-room is quite near.'

"I answered by a bow, and he immediately led the way to it.

"Where is Ernest? I want to thank him for having brought you to us.'

"On the contrary, sir, it is I who am deeply indebted to Ernest.'

Can you tell me how this law-suit is going on?' "What law-suit?'

"O, the great family suit.'

"O! it is going on exceedingly well.' "I am glad to hear it. Have you spoken to my wife and daughter?'

"Yes, I have had that honor.'

666

Now tell me honestly, do you follow Ernest's example?'

"Follow Ernest's example! You may fancy how embarrassed I was to find a ready answer to this question, but a hem and a haw got me out of the scrape, for my stout friend went on to say

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"Ernest is good for nothing; he neither plays nor dances.'

"I, on the contrary, am very fond of dancing, and if I am not, as I fear, quite too late, I would beg permission to engage your daughter.'

"I rather think her card must be full by this time. Still I know that she generally reserves a dance or two for any late comers she may wish to favor. Come, I will make your request for you.' And so saying, he led me up to his daughter, whose first words, when her eye fell upon us, were

"I see you have not forgotten our engagement for the next quadrille.

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"How is this?" inquired my portly friend; you said just now

"I was as much surprised as he was, but hastened to say, I had asked the young lady, but she turned to speak to some one who was just coming into the room, and left me in doubt whether she would accede to my request.'

"So you see my mediation was quite unnecessary; and now I will leave you. When you see Ernest, pray tell him I have got something to say to him.'

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Being left alone with my own thoughts in the midst of this perfectly strange world, I began to try and bring them into some order. Everybody here, thought I, seems to know me, and I know not a human being. It is very evident this fair damsel is wondrously smitten with me, and would have no objection to a little love-making. It is easily guessed what she wants to say to me. all events I shall soon know; but what am I to say to her? If I only knew who this Ernest is.

At

"In the mean time the music for the quadrille began, and I hastened to secure my

partner. She is a handsome, fine-looking forever, no! If you will not allow me to say

girl of about twenty. We danced the first figure without uttering a word, but when the turn of the side-couples came, the young lady said to me:

As far as papa is concerned, there is no danger, but do not trust Ernest. He knows nothing, as you may easily perceive. He is a friend, a sincere friend, but I should be quite ashamed of his knowing, and yet it was necessary that we should come to some explanation. You may speak without any

risk now.'

to you how much I love you, I will write it ten times a day. If you will not concede me the privilege of seeing you in your own house, I will station myself as a shoe-black opposite your door, brushes and all, and never leave my post for an instant.'

"You terrify me!'

666

'O! could I have ever thought, ever have expected to meet only hatred in return for such undying love and devotion.'

"I did not say that it was only hatred I felt for you, but this I say, that it is the only feeling it would be allowable for me to express.'

"What was I to explain? I was perfectly bewildered. Fortunately, we were just at this moment separated by the figure of the The country-dance came at length to an dance, and when we rejoined each other, she end. As I led her to a seat, I whispered, had, to my inexpressible relief, entirely for-Remember the shoe-brushes.' gotten that it was my turn to speak. I could "She smiled as I left her, and mingled with quite understand the poor young girl's falling the crowd. I had enough to occupy my in love with me at first sight, but the pre- thoughts in trying to unravel of what romance vious knowledge of me implied utterly per- she was making me the hero. What part did plexed me. She herself, resumed the conver- this Ernest play in it, and who is he? Still, sation by saying, however that might be, I saw in the whole thing, up to this, nothing but a rare frolic. I was to be favored with another country-dance after three other engagements which my fair partner was obliged to keep.

"The first thing I must do is to return your letters.'

"This is confusion worse confounded, thought I. I have to my knowledge never written a line to her in my life. But she continued:

"You could have been guilty of no greater imprudence than to write to me in such a manner. It has always been my habit to hand my mother every letter I receive before I break the seal, and it was by a most lucky chance that I did not do so with either of your letters. I have not replied to them, as I thought it better to do so by word of mouth. But I would not venture to have a private interview with you; here amongst so many people I shall have more courage. You must really not write to me any more, nor remain for so many hours before my door. There is no knowing what people may say."

"My goodness! What a game of crosspurposes! I who stood before the door merely to look at the statues! However, now I saw my way, and I answered boldly, that being once admitted into her house, I should no longer have occasion to remain standing before the door, and that if she would permit me to speak to her, I need not write.

"Another movement of the dance again separated us. After which my fair partner

went on.

"No, it is far better that we should not see each other again. I am, as you know, engaged to another, and all intercourse ought to be henceforth out of the question.'

"What, madam, not sce you again? After devoting my whole life for so long a time to you alone; after having accustomed myself to make you the subject of every thought, the object of every hope. No! no!

"The time came, and our conversation was resumed.

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666

This is a strange way of inspiring me with confidence in you.'

"What can you mean? I swore by all that is most sacred and precious to me.'

"Ah! so by your love you swore never more to speak to me of your love.'

"This then was what I had sworn. I was all right again.

"Dear me, dear lady: I will not deceive you. I will say whatever you wish; I will converse with you on any topic you please; but you are to remember that henceforth

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whatever I say, be the subject what it may, I must be invited to the house. But how was
I shall always mean one and the same thing this to be managed?
- I love you.'

"But what is to be done with Ernest?'
"Bah! what on earth is Ernest to me?'
"But he is much to me, and his feelings
must be spared as much as possible.'

"O, I will be as considerate to him as
you could wish.'

Thank you, that will oblige me greatly.' "But I do not know him.'

"How you do not know him! Was not he that took you the invitation?'

"Some days after, the conversation was dexterously turned upon the young artist, and they repeated many flattering things, which, according to them, were publicly said of my unworthy self. Ernest, who had been so long engaged to her that she had had time to forget that he was her lover, though she did not forget to claim from him every attention, and the fullest submission to her every caprice, it-Ernest, who was always at hand precisely whenever he was wanted, was not without his hobby; and this was, a desire to be considered as the particular friend, or the acquaintance at least, of any person of notoriety. so when my name was mentioned, he said at once

"The note was given to my porter with-
out a word being said of whom it came
from.'

"He told me he knew you very well.'
"I have not got a single acquaintance of
that name.'

"In short, dear friend, by the time our
long conversation was at an end, I had
learned part of the secret and guessed the

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Bussault, I know him intimately!'

And

"Do bring him then to pass an evening with us. But you must take the whole thing upon yourself, with my father. If I were to ask papa myself, he would insist upon mamma's admitting some old twaddles to our party, and this would be paying too dear for M. de Bussault's presence.'

66 6

'Very well; I will ask your father for a card for one of my friends, and will bring him to you.'

"Mademoiselle de had seen me countless times standing before her door, admiring, as you know, the statues. She had also received two anonymous love letters, in which, amongst other impassioned phrases, was the following:-The sweetest moments of my life are those which I spend gazing at the "And thus it happened that Ernest, who spot privileged to hold you.' As Mademoiselle did not know me in the least, but who easily de was fully persuaded that I was des- found out where I lived, merely sent me the perately in love with her, so these letters were invitation, hoping, before the evening of the most naturally put down to my account. Some | days after, she was going out to drive with a friend, as I came in front of the door. Her companion saw me, and said

"Look, there is M. Alfred de Bussault.'
"Who, that young man?'
"Yes,' said the friend. 'Do you not
know him?'

"No. Are you acquainted with him?'
"Only by name. He is a celebrated young

"What a handsome, interesting face! Altogether he is quite divine,' said my in

But here Alfred was interrupted by his auditor.

1

"Heyday, man; who on earth reported this
conversation to you?"
"Nobody. This is part of what I told you
I guessed.'

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99

O, I understand; very well, go on."
"You will allow this was not doing badly
for a first appearance. The two young ladies,
particularly my fair friend, were so charmed
with me, that they settled between them that

I

ball, to find some one who would introduce me to him; but some family circumstances obliged him to leave Paris unexpectedly for some days. Meanwhile, I went to the ball, and told you the delightful evening I had, and the conquest I had made."

"Ah! now I understand why you were in such a deep reverie. I cannot, however, help saying that the whole story appears to me a little improbable. Be candid with me. Lay aside all the embroidery and let me see the naked canvas."

"With all my heart. The truth, the plain truth, unadorned and unvarnished, is simply this: While smoking, I was thinking of an invitation which I actually had to a ball given at this young lady's house, and which quite surprised me, as I knew none of the family. It came off the day before yesterday, and all that I have been telling you is just fancy's sketch of what it is most likely would have taken place had I gone to the ball, which I should have done, but that my black coat was somewhat too shabby, and my tailor would not listen to reason."

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From the New Monthly Magazine.

SIR THOMAS NOON TALFOURD.

To win golden opinions (we speak not of fees) from all sorts of men, in and out of Westminster Hall, as Mr. Sergeant and as Mr. Justice, is good. To win renown in literature -such renown as comes not of sounding brass and tinkling cymbal-is-well, out with it! better. To win the loving esteem of all one's associates, as a man with heart large enough for them all, is best. This good, better, best, hath Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd.

fused."

Scott, keeping his terms at Oxford, obtained the prize of English Composition, "On the Advantages and Disadvantages of Foreign Travel; and it has been remarked, we believe by Mr. Justice Talfourd himself, that since the subject of this essay was far removed from John's Newcastle experience, and alien from his studies, and must therefore have owed its success either to the ingenuity of its suggestions, or to the graces of its style; and that as, in after-life, the prize essayist was never distinguished for felicity of expression or fertility of illustration, and acquired a His it is to enjoy at once the three degrees of style not only destitute of ornament, but unwieldy and ponderous; this youthful success comparison the positive forensic, the comsuggests the question, "Whether, in devoting parative literary, and the superlative humane. all his powers to the study of the law, he A case in Rule of Three with a splendid quo- crushed the faculty of graceful composition tient. To take a rule" of that sort is not with so violent an effort, that Nature, in reallowed to many. But Sir Thomas has it all his own wayrule absolute." And prob-venge, made his ear dull to the music of lanably, were his wishes for his brethren as ef- guage, and involved, though she did not darkficacious as they are cordial and general, there en, his wisest words?" Happily no such quære affects the career of the author of would be hardly an instance of "rule re- "Ion." He, indeed, is not lord high chanBut there is no surplusage of in- cellor; which makes a difference. But neistances of combined literary and forensic ther did the great Eldon write a triumphant success. To him who would be at once a great tragedy; and that again makes a difference in lawyer and a great poet, and would bind up the puisne judge's favor. Fancy Lord Eldon together in his book of life the studies of editing the Reliques of Elia, or measuring Blackstone and the dreams of Coleridge to him Experience, harsh monitor, whispers, extravagant enough, then fancy yourself readMacready for blank verse; and if that is not or if need be screams, Divide and conquer. ing the one, or squeezing into the pit to see Eminence in both departments is of the rarest. the other. Scott retained his clerkship at the Court of Session, but who ever heard of the Wizard of the North as a law authority? Jeffrey is one of the select inner circle to which Talfourd belongs. Wilson and Lockhart -"O no, we never mention them" in wig and gown. Sir Archibald Alison and Professor Aytoun, Mr. Procter and Sergeant Kinglake, Lords Brougham and Campbell, Mr. Ten Thousanda-Year Warren and a few others, are not all unexceptionable exceptions to prove the rule. And yet there has ever been, more or less, a hankering after the Muses and the Magazines on the part of Messieurs of the long robe. Very natural, too, if only by a law of reaction. But very hazardous, notwithstanding; and alarmingly symptomatic of a fall between two stools. One thing at a time the ambiguously ambitious avocat may do triumphantly but to drive Pegasus up and down an act of Parliament, whatever may be done with a coach-and-six, is no every-day sight, no anybody's feat. Lord Eldon, when plain Jack

*For example (though one swallow proves not summer), the French lawyers of the sixteenth cen. tury. A biographer of Etienne Pasquier, after relating his début as avocat at the barreau de Paris, proceeds to say: "Et on même temps, pours occuper ses loisirs, il se livra à la poésie, à la composition litéraire, caractère qui distingué sa génération d'avocats, et Pasquier entre tous les autres."

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when he woo'd and won publicity, it is said, by
Sir Thomas was not far gone in his teens
a" poem
on the liberation of Sir Francis
Burdett from durance vile. While still a
school-boy at Reading, he published a volume
of" poems," including a sacred drama, on the
miration of Mistress Hannah More, of which
Offering of Isaac " (inspired by that ad-
lingering traces survive in the preface to
"Ion"), " An Indian Tale," and some verses
about Education of the Poor, suggested by a
visit to Reading of Joseph Lancaster. School-
days over, he came to London, and fagged
under the famous Chitty, in whose Criminal
Law he aided and abetted. Then we find him
fertile in the production of pamphlets, on
toleration, on penal institutions, &c., and tak-
ing a gallant stand on the side of Wordsworth,
at a time (1815) when to do so was to be in
a scouted and flouted minority. Anon he
is on the list of contributors to the periodi-
cal literature of the day. to the Retro-
spective Review, the Encyclopaedia Metropoli
tana, and the London Magazine.
kind of work he engaged in for love and
money.
Himself is our authority for making

This

* Unless we err in attributing to his pen the very pleasant notice of the Lives of Lord Eldon and Lord Stowell, in the Quarterly Review for December, 1844.

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