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sistent with an alliance which would be patience must appeal to him as much in the alarming to Germany, and almost openly interest of society as in his own interest; hostile to England. The squabbles of the and the interest of society is a motive which tribes of the Lebanon concern the Govern- it requires some education and intelligence, ments of the continent far less nearly than and, perhaps, also, some degree of affluence, the restless intrigues of France; nor is any to feel. But the Belgian press has done its statesman deluded by the sympathy which duty well in setting before the people the looks for objects at Damascus, while robbery real character of that socialism which reigns and murder perpetrated by the pious Chris- at the Tuileries; and the result is, that, if tians of Montenegro are habitually counte- the French government means to annex Belnanced and protected. If Russia and France gium, it must evidently be done by the prohave determined on a joint robbery of Tur- cess which, in these days, is distastekey, any other power which joins in the un- ful- of open rapine, not by "universal dertaking deserves the reward which will in- suffrage." It was somewhat disturbing to evitably follow on its dishonesty and folly. read confident assertions in the French proThe barbarism of Syria and the miserable pagandist press that the loyalty shown to weakness of the Turkish government unfor- King Leopold was only that" of official cirtunately furnish a color of justification for cles;" that the king's consciousness of the French interference. It would have been fact rendered his tone "rather one of resig difficult to oppose in the first instance a pre-nation than of hope;" and that, if the Beltended act of generosity, which must never-gian people could be polled, it would protheless affect all serious English politicians nounce, by a great majority, for annexation with grave uneasiness. As the French pol- to France. Now these assertions are anicy develops itself, the pretence of sentiment swered. It is only a pity that the Belgian will be gradually laid aside, and it will become evident that the question turns on the expediency of creating a French province on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. The expedition which has been prepared so quickly was either organized beforehand, or has been rendered feasible by the chronic readiness of the French army and navy for war. On either supposition, the suddenness with which an unexpected military enterprise can be commenced ought to shame even the obstinate relics of the peace party into salutary and necessary vigilance.

From The Saturday Review, 28 July.
THE BELGIAN DEMONSTRATION.

operatives cannot send a deputation, first to Compiègne, to see the socialist emperor in his blouse amidst his simple household of prolétaires, and then to Cayenne, to see the leaders of the French operatives in the enjoyment of their socialist elysium.

"Belgium cannot have to fear an odious attack on the independence of a free people. It must regard as impossible the very thought of an attempt the iniquity of which would be denounced by indignant Europe." These words of the Belgian Chamber are not merely a convenient mode of deprecating an apprehended crime they are an appeal Ito the morality of Europe, which Europe must answer if it would not have all morality trodden under foot by violence. And THE best feature in the demonstration Europe will not have all morality trodden with which the Belgian people have met the under foot. The force of opinion in interappeals and rebuked the intrigues of French national affairs is not so great as it ought to annexationists is the enthusiasm displayed be; nor, thanks to technical diplomacy, are by the working men. The excitement of international ethics so sound as those of discontent among the working classes in the common life. But even among diplomatists adjoining states is the great instrument by there is now a feeling that it is better, in the which Louis Napoleon and his confederates long run, to have the heart of the world hope to pave the way for their aggressions. upon your side. France herself would have That the Frankenstein they are thus rais- to think twice before she murdered a nation ing would in the end destroy their own gov- Perhaps even among Frenchmen there are ernment too, and make Europe, not one vast not a few who, when the dagger was uplifted, French Empire, but one vast Jacquerie, is would remember, in a manner inconvenient a matter of little consequence to them. They to their government, that France in her hap live for the day. The morrow may take care pier hour had contributed, and been proud of itself. To their neighbors, Imperial So- of contributing, to give Belgium life. The cialism is a weapon almost as formidable as fear was that Belgium, prepared for self-be it is diabolical. There is too much in the trayal by the arts of French agents, and lot of the working man in every country to Gallicizing priests, might protest so faintly make him an apt listener to any devil of rev- and succumb so easily as to give the mur olution that whispers into his ear. Every-der the appearance of a suicide. That fear where those who exhort him to order and is now past, and with it the real danger.

Exposed as Belgium lies to the overpower-out its use.

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But rare indeed are the in

ing military force of France, it is impossible stances of a European population in the to say that, if the struggle should begin, the present day to whom French conquest or octide of conquest might not for a moment cupation would be any thing but a manifest sweep over her, as it often swept over her curse. in those centuries during which she was the Nor must it be supposed that Belgian battle-field of Europe. King Leopold's ex- nationality is merely the artificial creation pressions show that the possible recurrence of diplomatic convenience, and that Belgium of such disasters is painfully present to his is a portion of France partitioned off by the mind. But a people resolutely bent on be- paper wall of a treaty. If this were so, we ing a nation may be conquered, not once, might doubt whether, in struggling to mainbut many times, without being destroyed. tain Belgian independence, we were not strugPerhaps, indeed, the fear that Belgium gling against natural tendencies as strong as would commit suicide was always chimeri- fate. Such, of course, is the aspect which cal. The Belgians have certain reminiscen- French propagandists would fain give the ces pretty fresh in their minds. The sweets question. According to their effusions, the of French domination are not to them un- separate existence of Belgium is a mere bubtasted. They know the bliss of which peo- ble inflated by diplomátic breath, which, ple become partakers when embraced by the having floated for its appointed time, is now "ardent fraternity " of the great "Chris-about to burst, and be lost in the great sea tian" nation. Among them, as in other of French unity and fraternity. Nothing countries over which it spread, French an- can be more erroneous. It is true that Belnexation, in return for what it took away gium is not separated from France by any in cash and blood, has left one invaluable clear geographical frontier; but neither is it lesson. "Belgium," says a Belgian journal, separated by any clear geographical frontier was confiscated in its own despite by the from Holland. If Europe is to be rectified French Republic, which had promised it a on these principles, geography will indeed fraternal alliance, absorbed in a great em- become an important science; but to prevent pire, and condemned by the right of the misadventures, France must have the superstrongest to sacrifice its interests and treas- vision of the atlas. It is true, also, that the mures to interests not its own.' Force may Flemish language having, unfortunately, no of course be used twice to do the same literature, French is the language of the wrong; but treachery leaves its life in the Belgian cities, and will probably become, in first sting. Besides, when the "fraternal a short time, the language of the whole counalliance" of the French republic was offered try. But if identity of language is necessaand accepted, Belgium was, and had been rily to involve identity of government, the for three hundred years, under alien domin- pretensions of England, as time goes on, will ation. She has now known thirty years of become absolutely terrific. The philological freedom. The game of Danton and "mon test, like the geographical will require to be oncle," is being played over again at a double regulated in the interest of the " sun of nadisadvantage- first, because it has been tions." It is true, again, that there is a sufound out; and secondly, because the cir-perficial community of religion between Belcumstances are altered. Some military ob- gium and France; but the Belgian Catholics servers have pronounced that the defences are sincerely religious, while the powers that of Cherbourg are calculated for the art of rule France are atheist, using religion merewar as it was in the time of the first Napo- ly as the degraded instrument of conquest. leon, and not for the art of war as it is now. The Belgians have a separate government In the same way, the propagandist machin- and institutions of their own to which they ery of the second empire is calculated for wish to adhere-this is the cardinal point of Europe as it was in the time of the first em- nationality and the root of the whole matter. pire rather than for Europe in its present They are, in the main, of a different race state. An army of seven hundred thousand from the French, and in their short period men is never obsolete; but the political of freedom have shown superior self-comcauses which carried the flood of revolution- mand, vigor, and perseverance. Indeed, one ary conquest over the surrounding countries of the reasons alleged for incorporating them as the tide runs in over a flat, are past and by the imperial pamphleteer is, that their gone. There is much that is unsound, and peculiar qualities are required to temper the much that ought to be altered, in the rela- national character of France. They have tions between continental rulers and their also a history of their own, though it has subjects; and even the threat of French been much overlaid by Burgundian, Spanish, aggression, appealing to hearts hardened Austrian, French, and Dutch domination. against justice, may be an agency not with-The core of their state consists of those great

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cities of Flanders and Brabant--the rivals of the Italian cities as early abodes of liberty, commercial wealth, and the attendant arts -which stand in the annals of human progress above any thing that the French Celt has had energy to produce. Why is all this to be tied up in a bundle and put under the feet of French vanity? Why is Brussels, now a distinct centre of political life, to be thrust into the long schedule of medieval capitals which Parisian "unity" exults in having extinguished? Why are all the public men to whom independence has given birth in Belgium to be superseded by a French prefect? Why is the independent experience, political, economical, and educational, which Belgium as a separate state is

contributing to the store of human enlightenment, to be merged and lost in a mass of population already too large for the interests of humanity? Why are those who have not shared the crimes and errors of French pol iticians to share the present political punishishment of France, and be committed with her to the dark chances of her uncertain and louring future? No answer can be given to these questions but that the annexation would please the Parisians, and, by turning their minds from their political degradation, help to secure the emperor and his associates in the enjoyments of Compiègne. This is an answer which the Belgians do not deem sufficient, as they have given France and the world clearly to understand.

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BAPTISMAL NAMES.-There is a family ex- any question of the word, either in numbers any isting in this neighborhood, two sons of whom yet issued or in the indices. Under the circumwere called Thankful and Tranquil (Joy), the stances I have, at the risk of troubling you with former still living, I believe; and in the adjoin- a matter which has very possibly already come ing county (Dorset) the triad, Faith, Hope, and under your notice, to ask of your correspondCharity are not uncommon. Much of the pecu-ents the origin of the expression, or how it first liarity of choice in selecting such names is due, I conceive, to the veneration observable in country districts for Scriptural names, and not to the lingering remains of Puritanical customs, as is sometimes supposed. Two at least of the names of Job's three daughters may be occasionally seen. I have a faint recollection of once meeting with the third. (Job xlii. 14.)

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[It may be said of the term "henpecked" (as it may of many other vernacular expressions), that though it be deemed trivial it is grounded on actual observation, and is true to nature and to fact. The ordinary cock of the farm-yard, however bold and fightful in his bearing towards other barn-door cocks, will sometimes submit to be peeked by his hens without resistance. Reaumur relates how two hens being shut up with a cock, they both together attacked him, and finally succeeded in killing him. Several cocks were afterwards shut up successively with the same two hens, and would have experienced the " The fate of the first, if not withdrawn in time. extraordinary part.of this case was, that the cocks were strong and bold, and would easily have governed thirty rebel hens at large, yet, cooped up, did not attempt either to defend themselves, or even to avoid the attack of the furies, (Mowbray's Practical Treatise, 1830, p. 93. See also D'Orbigny's Dictionnaire 1844, iv. 208.) Hence the peculiar import and Swift's "Cadgell'd husband: significance of the term " henpecked." Cf.

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THE VOLUNTEER ON JULY 14th. You must wake and call me early, when the early birds appear,

To-morrow will be a glorious day for each London volunteer:

For each London volunteer by far the hottest, heaviest day

For we're to shain fight at Chiselhurst, four thousand strong, they say.

There's many a crack, crack corps I know, but

none so crack as mine,

There's the queen's and artillery company, almost equal to the line,

But none can beat our local corps, whether red, or green, or gray,

And so we shall prove at Chiselhurst in to-morrow's tremendous fray.

I sleep so sound after evening drill, that I shall never wake,

If the maid doesn't knock extremely loud when my boots she comes to take;

And you'll have to cut me some sandwiches,and cut them substantial, prayWe shall all have desperate appetites at Chiselhurst, I dare say.

As I came up to our private parade, whom think ye I should see,

But that ass, Smivens-a coming it as cheeky as could be:

He gave a look at my uniform, as if he meant

to say:

"How can you make such a guy of yourself, old chap, at your time of day?"

He thought I should be offended, but I guess I sold him quite ;

For I passed, and no more gave him a look than if he'd been out of sight;

You may tell me it's snobbish to cut a man, but this is what I say;

That the chap who don't join a volunteer corps has thrown his manhood away.

They say we shall fire thirty rounds, I don't

know how that may be;

I've not fired more than ten rounds yet, and that was enough for me.

For what with biting the cartridges, and what with blazing away,

I'd a taste in my mouth, and a buzz in my ears, for all the rest of the day.

Lord Ranelagh as Commander-in-Chief to-morrow will be seen,

And as his uniform is gray, let us hope he wont turn out green;

I trust he'll remember which is attack, and which is defence, in the fray,

Or we certainly shall have a difficulty about who is to give way.

The war office has issued no end of rounds and

caps;

And in Regent's Park and on Putney Heath spent cartridges dot the grass :

And there's a sulphury, choky smell of gunpowder hangs all day

In the suburbs, that quite overpowers the breath of the new-mown hay.

And then when we've done our fighting, our empty stomachs to fill,

There's to be Grant's cooking wagon, to find dinner for all who will:

And the moderate sum of two shillings is all one will have to pay,

Which, considering what we're likely to eat, is a trifle, I must say.

So you must wake and call me early, when the early birds appear,

To-morrow's to be a glorious day for each Lon

don volunteer:

heaviest day

For each London volunteer about the hottest, For we've to fight at Chiselhurst, four thousand strong, they say!

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-Punch.

THE summer is come. - with dire comets, eclipses,

And sky-painted sunsets of wonderful tone; And whoever is wise (and has cash enough) dips his

Tired limbs in the sea and inhales the ozone. Ozone? Why there's none wherein Westminster Palace

Debates to a terrible nuisance have grown; If old Father Thames comes ashore with a chal

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ice,

He fills it with any thing else but ozone. John Russell's Reform Bill, a triumph of crassitude,

Mr. Gladstone's rash Budget, the silliest c'er Could scarce have existed, except for the lassiknown,

tude

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ozone !

I hope there'll be surgeons enough on the ground, The political air will next session grow purer Earl Derby the time-serving Whigs will dethrone.

in case of little mishaps.

For novices have a habit-at least so veterans

say

When they get a little excited, of firing their So long live the Queen! may our rifles secure

ramrods away.

Detachments through the streets and squares to

their firing practice pass,

her!

May the Tories get power, and the air get

ozone.

-The Press, 21 July.

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