was halt; and not far off, a dotard. They were | Como tossed to and fro its navies of good cheer, the old and young, tall and short, handsome and ugly, shadows of the king-peaks wildly flitting thereupon. fat and lean, cunning and simple.

But no frigid wine and fruit cooler, Lake Como, as at first it did seem, but a tropical dining table, its surface a slab of light blue St. Pons marble in a

With animated courtesy our host received us; assigning a neighboring bower for Babbalanja and the rest; and among so many right-royal, demi-state of fluidity. divine guests, how could the demi-gods Media and Taji be otherwise than at home?

The unwonted sprightliness of Donjalolo surprised us. But he was in one of those relapses of desperate gayety invariably following his failure in efforts to amend his life. And the bootless issue of his late mission to outer Mardi had thrown him into a mood for revelry. Nor had he lately shunned a wild wine called Morando.

Now, many a crown was doffed; sceptres laid aside; girdles slackened; and among those verdant viands the bearded kings like goats did browse; or tusking their wild boar's meat, like mastiffs ate.

And like unto some well-fought fight, beginning calmly, but pressing forward to a fiery rush, this well-fought feast did now wax warm.

A few royal epicures, however, there were: epicures intent upon concoctions, admixtures, and masA slave now appearing with a bowl of this bever-terly compoundings; who comported themselves age, it circulated freely. with all due deliberation and dignity; hurrying Not to gainsay the truth, we fancied the Moran-themselves into no reckless deglutition of the daindo much. A nutty, pungent flavor it had; like some kinds of arrack distilled in the Philippine isles. And a marvellous effect did it have in dissolving the crystallization of the brain; leaving nothing but precious little drops of good humor, beading round the bowl of the cranium.

of a tree.

Meanwhile garlanded boys, climbing the limbs of the idol-pillars, and stirruping their feet in their most holy mouths, suspended hangings of crimson tappa all round the hall; so that sweeping the pavement they rustled in the breeze from the grot. Presently, stalwart slaves advanced; bearing a mighty basin of a porphyry hue, deep-hollowed out Outside were innumerable grotesque conceits; conspicuous among which, for a border, was an endless string of the royal lizards circumnavigating the basin in inverted chase of their tails. Peculiar to the groves of Willamilla, the yellow lizard formed part of the arms of Juam. And when Donjalolo's messengers went abroad, they carried its effigy, as the emblem of their royal master; themselves being known as the Gentlemen of the Golden Lizard.

ties. Ah! admirable conceit, Lake Como; superseding attendants. For, from hand to hand the trenchers sailed; no sooner gaining one port, than dispatched over sea to another.

Well suited they were for the occasion; sailing high out of water, to resist the convivial swell at times ruffling the sociable sea; and sharp at both ends, still better adapting them to easy navigation. But soon, the Morando, in triumphant decanters, went round, reeling like barks before a breeze. But their voyages were brief; and ere long, in certain havens, the accumulation of empty vessels threatened to bridge the lake with pontoons. In those directions, Trade winds were setting. But full soon, cut out were all unladen and unprofitable gourds; and replaced by jolly-bellied calabashes, for a time sailing deep, yawning heavily to the push.

At last, the whole flotilla of trenchers-wrecks and all- -were sent swimming to the further end of Lake Como; and thence removed, gave place to ruddy hillocks of fruit, and floating islands of flowers. Chief among the former, a quince-like, golden sphere, that filled the air with such fragrance, you thought you were tasting its flavor.

Nor did the wine cease flowing. That day the Juam grape did bleed; that day the tendril ringlets of the vines did all uncurl; and grape by grape, in sheer dismay, the sun-ripe clusters dropped. Grapeglad were five-and-twenty kings; five-and-twenty kings were merry.

The porphyry-hued basin planted full in our midst, the attendants forthwith filled the same with the living waters from the cascade; a proceeding, for which some of the company were at a loss to account, unless his highness, our host, with all the coolness of royalty, purposed cooling himself still further, by taking a bath in presence of his guests. A conjecture, most premature; for directly, the Morando's vintage had no end; nor other liquids, basin being filled to within a few inches of the liz-in the royal cellar stored, somewhere secret in the ards, the attendants fell to launching therein divers goodly sized trenchers, all laden with choice viands: wild boar meat; humps of grampuses; embrowned bread-fruit, roasted in odoriferous fires of sandal wood, but suffered to cool; gold-fish, dressed with the fragrant juices of berries; citron sauce; rolls of the baked paste of yams; juicy bananas, steeped in a saccharine oil; marmalade of plantains; jellies of guava; confections of the treacle of palm sap; and many other dainties; besides numerous stained calabashes of Morando, and other beverages, fixed in carved floats to make them buoyant.

The guests assigned seats, by the woven handles attached to his purple mat, the prince, our host, was now gently moved by his servitors to the head of the porphyry-hued basin: where, flanked by lofty crowned heads, white tiaraed, and radiant with loyalty, he sat; like snow-turbaned Mont Blanc, at sunrise presiding over the head waters of the Rhone; to right and left, looming the gilded summits of the Simplon, the Gothard, the Jungfrau, the Great St. Bernard, and the Grand Glockner.

grot. Oh! where's the endless Niger's source? Search ye here, and search ye there; on, on, through ravine, vega, vale-no head waters will ye find. But why need gain the hidden spring, when its lavish stream flows by? At threefold mouths that Deltagrot discharged; rivers golden, white, and red.

But who may sing for aye? Down I come, and light upon the old and prosy plain.

Among other decanters set afloat, was a pompous, lordly-looking demijohn, but old and reverend withal, that sailed about, consequential as an autocrat going to be crowned, or a treasure-freighted argosie bound home before the wind. It looked solemn, however, though it reeled; peradventure, far gone with its own potent contents.

Oh! russet shores of Rhine and Rhone! oh! mellow memories of ripe old vintages! oh, cobwebs in the Pyramids! oh, dust on Pharaoh's tomb!— all, all recur, as I bethink me of that glorious gourd, its contents cogent as Tokay, itself as old as Mohi's legends; more venerable to look at than Yet turbid from the launching of its freight, Lake | his beard. Whence came it? Buried in vases, so

All hail, Marzilla! King's Own Royal Partic-grotto sent back a shout; the ghosts of the coral ular! A vinous Percy! Dating back to the Conquest! Distilled of yore from purple berries growing in the purple valley of Ardair! Thrice hail!

From the Spectator, 17th March. the earth. Such is the present look of affairs. THE Austrian government has imparted a strik-Some politicians see in the measure nothing but ing turn to events in the empire, by suddenly an attempt to gain time, until Russia shall have superseding the dilatory Constituent Assembly at collected her armies. No facts, however, have as Kremsier, and promulgating a constitution, which yet come forth to warrant that interpretation. fully adopts the doctrine we have upheld, that In Frankfort, meanwhile, the measures of the limited monarchy is the style of government best Austrian cabinet are regarded as a definitive separsuited to the actual state of Europe. It is only, ation from "Germany;" and M. Welcker, an adin its present form, a general declaration of rights vocate of Austria, has abandoned his advocacy, applicable to all subjects of the empire, with a po- and proposed to offer the emperorship of "Gerlitical organization for the empire considered as an inany" to the King of Prussia. On the other imperial federation of states with a central govern-hand, Russia is said to have offered armed succors ment and parliament at Vienna. There are to be to enforce order in Prussia, and to have been anprovisional parliaments, with a local administration swered that the approach of an army towards of local affairs in the respective communities; Germany" would be met by the king as an overt the several state constitutions are not yet promul- act of war. These are rumors; but the anger of gated; and those parts of the empire which may the Frankfort Assembly, at being slighted by Ausbe called just now in litigation, such as Hungary tria, is unmistakable; and every sign promises and Austrian Italy, are expressly excluded until a that Germany will throw herself into the hands of future date. But the draft federal constitution is Frederick William, swelling his territories to an as expressly intended to embrace the whole em- empire and promoting himself to an imperial title. pire; and it recognizes the essential elements of every political right. It seems a compound of the constitutions of England, France, and America.

but

66

From the Spectator, 17th March.

THE AUSTRIAN CONSTITUTION. THE Constitution vouchsafed by the Austrian government to its subjects at present stands on the records of Europe as a project. It is a plan to which the government has pledged itself; and much is to be expected from a government which

In estimating the good faith and strength of purpose that animate the Austrian government, this step must be taken along with its antecedents, as one of a series. Although the secret history of affairs at Olmütz will not be published for many a day, it is not difficult to comprehend the broad na-unites success in arms to so much boldness in ture of the counsels that have prevailed. The old grappling with the great political problems of the Austrian régime broke down when the intrigues day; but still the event alone can be the effective of the Archduke Francis Charles and the Camarilla test whether the government possesses sufficient came to a dead lock, and the imperial edicts, issued vigor to realize this project. Its application to without any ministerial countersignature, simply the states of the empire which are still holding attested the impotence of absolute authority. No back from their allegiance, are suspended for obavailable statesman could be found to countersign vious reasons; but it is to be extended to the those absurd decrees. As soon as the signature" whole empire," including those states not repreof Wessenberg appeared at the foot of the imperial sented at Kremsier. For the moment, then, we manifestoes, the influence of new councils was ap- take it only as a sign, a portent; but it is a glori parent; and, reviewed in sequel from the present ous portent, it is a sign of great ideas sitting in vantage-ground, the general character of those possession of the imperial throne. councils is intelligible. The leading men are in the vigor of life. Prince Schwartzenberg is about fifty years of age, and is distinguished in the field and the council-chamber; Count Stadion, the leading mind, is a few years past forty, an accomplished diplomatist, and an energetic and intellectual states

man.

If the Austrian government has sufficient strength to carry out this draft constitution in substance, and to complete the plan in all branches, it will be esteemed a privilege to be a subject of the Austrian empire; the Emperor Francis Joseph will be the first among the continental sovereigns whose subjects will feel the same pride in their institutions and government that the Englishman feels-the pride of individual freedom, coupled with the pride of duty towards institutions worth allegiance, since they confer greatness on the nation and honor on its children.

The late emperor was led to the repose suited to his condition; a young prince, active, intelligent, and popular, was invited to the throne of Rodolph; the authority of the dynasty was upheld by force of arms, but the political doctrines of liberal Europe were recognized and accepted; Prince Schwartzenberg courts alliance with the re- If the constitution be accepted by the States of public of France, accepts the suggestion of a full Austria, it cannot be retracted even so much of European congress to revise the settlement of 1815, it as is here guaranteed will suffice to confer upon and invites the participation of Russia and Prussia; the Austrians full personal and political liberty, Count Stadion, uniting the characters of Cromwell with the means of working out their own instituand Jefferson, disperses the long parliament at tions. We say this in view of the fact that the Kremsier, and promulgates a federal constitution, provincial constitutions are still wanting: but be of such a nature, that if the intent be converted into deed, Austria will be among the freest as it will once more be among the greatest empires of

they conceived in a spirit of Absolutism itself— which is most improbable the subjects of the Austrian empire will yet possess, by virtue of this

imperial constitution, the instrument for develop- the Bohemian is to awake to a freedom such as ing their own liberties without delay or abatement: the Hungarian hoped to attain, and the Englishif the provincial constitutions be unworthy of the man possesses; as an Austrian that the purchaser imperial charter, the aggrieved people may attain of Hungarian lands in base tenure sees a prospect their object through Austria. This will appear | dawning upon him of securing his property against from a bare enumeration of the rights now attested reversionary purchase. What are the probabilities by the sign-manual of the young emperor. and difficulties that attend the carrying out of this Throughout the Austrian empire, full equality project, it would he impossible at the moment to is secured to all religious creeds, with all such calculate. National jealousies may render the political and municipal rights as involve no breach Hungarian obstinately contumacious-especially as of civic duties. Religious persecution, therefore, he will bear in mind the Emperor Joseph the First's must cease forever-the vocation of a Ronge is assimilating crotchets, and the success which superseded; an appeal lies from the pope to the Hungary had in resisting a plan that would have magistrate. "Science and the teaching of it are abated her liberties in raising others. Hopes of free :" in virtue of that single sentence, the oppro- achieving some peculiar national supremacy may brium of Italian Austria, the moral and intellectual make Jellachich and the Sclavonian races shrink malversation of academic institutions, will fall. from a consolidation, which will rouse their preju"Domestic instruction is not subject to restriction dices of nationality, while few of them may appreof any kind:" the educational inquisition of Aus-ciate the political advantages placed within their tria falls. Expression of opinion is free. Every reach. The heat of recent contest and the delirone has the right to petition. Personal liberty is inviolable; all patrimonial tribunals are abolished; every citizen is to be tried before the public tribunals, without distinction of class: Spielberg then has ceased. "The entire empire forms one customs and commercial territory,' "there is but one Austrian citizenship for all nations of the empire," "there is no restraint on personal movements within the boundaries of the empire." It needs no comment to point out the immense power conferred on the citizen by this liberty of commercial intercourse, this ubiquity of his privileges, and this freedom to carry his person and opinions to all parts of the empire. The emperor is inviolable and irresponsible: every public act must be signed by a minister; the ministers are responsible. There are to be two chambers; one, like the American senate, composed of deputies from the diets of the great provinces that form the empire, not less than two from each; the other chamber elected by direct popular suffrage. A property qualification restricts the franchise: but when it is remembered that the poorer orders are in most cases available for the government against the in- It is interesting to observe the two agencies telligent and effective political sections of each that have jointly carried Austria thus far in her people, the limitation of the franchise, intended no onward progress-force of intellect and force of doubt as a guarantee for order, is also a direct arms. The doctrines of Western Europe have concentration and augmentation of political power been percolating the best parts of the Austrian in the hands of that intelligent and effective sec-empire, until they had completely undermined the tion. The deputies are inviolable, and in no way accountable for things said in debate. The emperor can dissolve either chamber, or both; but then, a new diet, including of course both chambers, for they cannot sit separately, must be convened within three months.

ium of revolutionary enthusiasms may make the Italians repel a project which offers them more than they are likely to realize for themselves within the prospect of living vision. But the safety and stability of Austria are not less staked on the success of the project than the real interests of the subject provinces; and the author of the draft is evidently impressed with that conviction. The probability of its complete establishment rests on the inherent power of the Austrian governmentits tact, sagacity, and strength of arm. Count Stadion and his colleagues are engaged in the strangest of all the revolutions that Europe has just witnessed-stranger than any of those in 1848 -a movement to reestablish the monarchy of absolute Austria on a basis like that which has conferred so much stability on the English monarchy, and to consolidate the empire by swallowing up many scattered and wild revolutions in one which is to enforce over the vast territory recently contested by absolutism and republicanism the dominant European principle of the day-limited monarchy.

public opinion on which absolutism rested; for all sovereign power rests on opinion of some kind. But the past power of Austria had built up such a machinery for its own perpetuation, in the shape of its bureaucracy and its armies, that mere doctrine might as well have tried to "write down" The leading ideas of this project, which is as an Egyptian pyramid as the organized power of cribed to Count Stadion, are three-the regenera- Vienna. Revolt has shaken Europe with its ention of the Austrian empire, by allying it to the sanguined earthquake; faith in the inviolable imdominant opinions of Europe; the direct employ- mortality of absolute power has been destroyed; it ment of liberal European opinions and sympathies has not yet been positively conquered in pitched in working out the imperial interests; the consoli- battle, but it has faced the death of exterminadation of the Austrian empire. It is as an Aus- tion, and its upholders were afraid. Meanwhile, trian that the Italian is to feel political strength the opinions of the day have gained possession and freedom come upon him; as an Austrian that even of the best servants of the old régime:

From the Examiner, 17th March.

on national sentiments and interests. Every law of that constitution breathes mistrust of Russia. And the power which promulgated such a form of government can in future do no other than lean upon, and in the direction of, constitutional countries.

among the courtly intrigues of Berlin, Humboldt As to England's being on fair terms with recognizes the flower of cosmic science in free Austria, there can be no fear of that. The government, Austrian bureaucracy produces a Sta- Austrian cabinet has just shown, by the remarkdion who can form the gigantic scheme of recon-able constitution which it has promulgated, a destructing an empire on doctrinal grounds, and the termination to form a new and a liberal empire, house of Hapsburg once more produces a prince based not on Russia or on military principles, but who can accept the great enterprise of his age. This is not reaction, but action: this constitution it is, and not the declamations of Blum or the dreams of Jellachich, which mark the progress that Austria has made. On the other hand, Humboldt might have lectured on the cosmogony for the term of another lengthened life, and Sta- There may be statesmen and generals in Austria dion might have reflected till the sleep of the tomb, who do not approve their constitution, and who had not the revolutionists of Paris awakened the are for a thick-and-thin Russian alliance. But strength of Europe to perform the will of its mind. notwithstanding all the reports which tell of their Suum cuique. It is the sharp sword of revolution success, and of the completion of that alliance, which has cut open the closed leaves of political we must take the liberty, as yet, not to believe doctrine and laid the volume open to the peoples them. Austria has still more to lose than to win of Europe. They cannot all read it yet with | by Russian support; and we must suspend our steady eyes and fixed attention; but the book is credence till something more positive be learned. closed no more; and here in Austria itself an In the affairs of Italy, however, the Austrian edition is published with the imprimatur of impe- minister takes more pains to win France, to flatter rial authority! it, and obtain its support, than it takes for English adhesion. What more natural? The national feeling of England is not awakened for Lombard as for Roman independence. We do not, like the French President, hold an ardent population in leash, and keep it from rushing over the Alps. We should therefore neither be suspicious nor jealous of Austrian advances to France. The Morning Chronicle seeks to affright us by the bugbear of a French and Austrian alliance, such as that which in the last half century menaced the balance of power in Germany and in Europe. Who now fears for the balance of power in Germany or in Europe? In the last century France and Austria leagued—what for?— to make war, to hustle Prussia, or to get a slice of Poland. Now, if they ally, we may depend upon it that it is not for war, but for peace; not for the purposes of treachery, but for those of The writer in question infers, from a sentence compromise. Instead of being in alarm at a good of one of Prince Schwartzenberg's dispatches, understanding between Prince Schwartzenberg and that England or its minister, first and alone, pro- Louis Napoleon, we may find reason, on the conposed the dismemberment of Austria and Lom-trary, to congratulate ourselves and Europe on the bardy. And hereupon is built a mighty pile of closeness and sincerity of the understanding. accusations. Now, what is the fact? M. Hum- We should have said this at any time; but how melauer came to this country to ask our govern-much more should it be said now, when Austria ment to mediate between Austria and the Lom- has entered, to all appearance frankly, on the path bards. It was proposed to grant a separate government to the Milanese. Lord Palmerston replied that he should be delighted to mediate, and to procure the Milanese for Austria on these terms; but in the then state of affairs, with the Austrians driven behind the Adige, he saw no chance of any such condition being accepted by the Italians. M. Hummelauer admitted the good sense and fairness of the reply, and said he would see! new instructions. Such, simply, was the negotiation which Prince Schwartzenberg mis- monarchical federation. And it has this advanrepresents, and which the Morning Chronicle runs into a labyrinth of errors in seeking to make a crime of.

AUSTRIA ITS ALLIANCE AND CONSTITUTION. THE days of intimate alliances are gone. The time when two great courts patched up a marriage, and on the strength of the family tie made a secret treaty for robbing or over-reaching other kingdoms, is passed. The struggle of diplomatists to acquire personal influence, and to link courts together by the intrigues of princely caprice, is become absurd to think of. When, therefore, our contemporary, the Morning Chronicle, makes long diatribes about England's alienating Austria, and being on bad terms with an ancient ally, the ingenious writer is merely committing an anachronism, and discussing the feeling of the nineteenth century with the ideas of the eighteenth.

of constitutional government! Since the bombardments of Prague and of Vienna, the court of Austria has been identified with a purely military administration. Courts-martial, forced constitutions, unnecessary executions, threats and violence, have marked the career of Windischgrätz and Radetzki. But the civilians have at length spoken out; and as far as can yet be learned of the new constitutional organization promulgated, it is favorable to liberty. It is the first great essay of a

tage, that even if the great empire of Austria should be doomed to fall asunder, it educates and prepares each province and class in the practice