I grinned a ghastly grin, and should have felt no wise astonished, had the door opened and the entire board of directors been announced incontinently, to bring down confusion upon us for our accursed presumption.

The announcement was received, however, most becomingly, by Mortimer. He expressed his unbounded feelings of gratitude at the condescension of his excellency, in deigning thus to bring honour to his temporary dwelling, and with much tact accounted for the circumstance of his not having already received the communication of the court.

As soon as my uncle was seated, I discovered the tendency of Bob's manœuvre he had managed to locate my unwelcome relative in such a position-that he was totally debarred from scrutinizing my features by the intervention of a huge old fashioned épergne. I began to breathe freely-it was only necessary that I should studiously hold my peace for the remainder of the evening, and as I had only ventured as it was upon one or two sentences pronounced in a most barbarously confused dialect-my silence would probably escape the appearance of singularity.

Once or twice, during the course of the repast, I could observe that my opposite neighbour inclined slightly to one side-attempting as he did so to steal a furtive glance at my strangely disguised countenance; of so cursory a survey I did not stand in awe-more especially as I always managed to allow my eyes to encounter his almost immediately, and thus rendered it incumbent upon him in good breeding to avert his gaze.

Meanwhile the conversation progressed; and Mortimer's consummate good-generalship exceeded my most ardent expectations; upon every subject he spoke as a foreigner of intelligence and observation might have been supposed to speak in his situation-discussed our constitution and form of government-our literature mentioned the curiosity with which he looked forward to witnessing English dramatic performances, &c. &c.

The Castle at Hertford came in for a share of his freely expressed opinions-many of its cherished institutions and presiding functionaries were discussed with an off-hand boldness, that would have mightily discomposed the serenity of the latter within the pale of their own dominion. Much, however, that occurred that evening, and at which, at the time, I would have given worlds to have been at liberty to roar outright has escaped my recollection.

Once my uncle demanded of Mortimer if he had chanced to hear tidings at college of an unworthy nephew of his, Stapleton by name. Mortimer saw his cue instantly-assured him that he had become acquainted with the youth in question at the house of his Persian friend, and that the character he had heard of him had been flattering and satisfactory in the extreme. My uncle gave a grunt expressive

of his gratification, and Mortimer telegraphed a meaning laugh across the table.

I began to observe with some alarm that my friend was becoming unremitting in his homage to the bottle. The only perceptible effect, however, of his slight excess was an increased vivacity of manner, resulting in the concoction of some cruelly mendacious narratives concerning the customs and institutions of his supposed native country. I noted likewise, with no little amusement, that Mr. Mortimer, with all his politeness, could hardly conceal the surprise he experienced at the very undisguised and connoisseur-like partiality exhibited by his guest for his very oldest and most valued wines, more especially as the principles professed by the illustrious stranger were such as became in all respects the very strictest and most conscientious follower of the prophet.

Our party was composed of six in all; comprising, in addition to ourselves and our much-deluded relatives, a witty and wealthy M.P., and an author of much and fashionable celebrity at the time. The former had in contemplation, as we afterwards discovered, to distinguish himself in some important debate upon the Eastern policy of ministers, then about to agitate the house and country; he was untiring in his search for information upon any point at all bearing upon the discussion; towards the close of the evening he was induced to offer his warmest acknowledgments to Mortimer, as having confided to him statements which, if generally known, could not fail, as he declared, to clear up altogether and at once the many doubts and differences of opinions existing upon the subject. It is but justice to Bob to allow that he certainly did succeed more in enlightening the mind of his "honourable friend," in the course of an hour or so, upon the matter in hand, than had been effected by the public papers and other channels of communication, ordinary and extraordinary, as regarded the mind of the nation at large, for the last twelve months.

The man of letters upon his left did not fail, upon the other hand, to profit by the communicative foreigner's vast condescension and intelligence. Many a fact in natural history, science, and the arts of literature as practised in the East, burst then for the first time upon his ignorant and hitherto benighted understanding.

At length, to my infinite relief, a movement was made from the dining table, for I was beginning to fear the effects of Mortimer's increasing assurance and audacity. Both for the purpose of evading the possibility of recognition by my uncle, and of obviating the possibly dangerous effects of the wine in which Mortimer had been pretty freely indulging, I proposed an early retreat for the night.

Bob, to my inexpressible horror, insisted upon favouring the occupants of the drawing room before retiring, with what he was pleased to dignify with the title,-of a national and warlike Persian anthem; and

thereupon, without permission or further preface, he struck up-what I afterwards discovered to be a palanquin bearer's song he had learnt as a child in India. Under whatever melodious category my friend's musical effort may rank itself, I can safely affirm it to have eventuated in the most infernally jarring and discordant howl that ever issued from mortal gullet. It was all through a dismal monotonous drone-and its only possible or conceivable effect upon any auditory, would be the inducing sensations of drowsiness, or-in the case of those unaccustomed to the sounds "most musical, most melancholy," the very extremest feelings of disgust. The sustaining a becoming air of solemnity, upon the conclusion of my friend's little harmonious essay, was about the most painful effort of the kind I have ever been called upon to make-to be equalled perhaps only by the violence done to himself by Mr. Mortimer, in very desperately endeavouring to applaud the performer, without openly exhibiting his amusement and astonishment.

This was the finale of our evening's entertainment, and, upon making our parting salaams, the acknowledgment I vouchsafed to my lynx-eyed relative was purposely haughty and distant in the extreme.

Upon leaving his uncle's mansion, Mortimer once more became unmanageable, he swore he would not return to College without rejoicing in the possession of his much duped relative's knocker and bell handle as additional trophies of his success, and thereupon ordered the coachman to return to Curzon-street, which he had just quitted.

In vain I endeavoured to oppose the mad project; my apprehensions which had been raised afresh by my uncle's inquisitive parting glance, were destined to suffer a relapse. Bob expressed his resolution to walk back alone in case I refused to accompany him, so in a state bordering upon desperation, I consented and ordered the coachman to

return.

To my inexpressible relief, Bob effected his object without interruption-and then, with all the instability of purpose and obstinacy of an intoxicated man, he proposed performing the same officiously kind work of amputation upon the doors of all the adjacent houses. With difficulty 1 dissuaded him from carrying out this new scheme, and at length prevailed upon my erratic friend to reseat himself in our job carriage.

Once recalled to the events of the past evening, triumph inconceivable at the entire success of our expedition alone took possession of Bob's mind; another half hour found us in a post-chaise upon our road back to College; we arrived there in all safety about the hour of midnight, and gained our rooms unquestioned and unperceived.

It only remains in conclusion to state, that Mortimer had in no wise miscalculated the extent of his uncle's generosity; the next post

established his full and undoubted claim to the entire amount of his wager won.

The event was celebrated by a college supper-and what supper ever yet came up to a college supper-in Mortimer's rooms. Stanley and several others, lost and paid their money with the greatest philosophy, and Mortimer, to use his own expression, found himself in a condition "to carry on the war for the remainder of the term."

I wish I could present my readers with a true and faithful copy of the penitent letter dispatched subsequently by Mortimer to his uncle in London. It was couched in the true Eastern style of epistolary correspondence, but in plain English did nothing more than explain, without reservation, the extent of the deceit under which the old man had been labouring, and ask forgiveness for the hoax that had been practiced upon him in terms of humility and contrition.

I need hardly state, that it was accorded in all promptness and kindness of spirit; but I may be excused for adding, that I have more than once since then dined in company with Bob at his hospitable uncle's table, and that although, upon such occasions, our entertainments have not been characterised by quite so much pomp as upon our first interview, they have been ever characterised by as cordial hospitality-and enhanced I trust by firm and mutual feelings of regard, which may every day augment.

H.

I'LL THINK OF THEE.

I'll think of thee, when rolling waves
Are bearing me away;
Whene'er the golden west receives
The sun's declining ray.

And when the gentle evening star

Shines o'er the azure sea,

Then shall my fond thoughts homeward fly,
And faithful, rest with thee.

When, too, the lovely crescent moon,
Doth silver heaven above,

And o'er the peaceful heart there crowd
Sweet thoughts of those we love;
When Fancy's spell doth bring around

Friends, that we fain would see;

Then grant my humble, only wish,

And give one thought to me.

W.

LET US DEPART HENCE.

The night was dark within the City's zone
Of bulwarks, save where dimly on the wall,
The watch-fire burned, and ever and anon

The figure of the sentinel, gaunt and tall,
Came stalking by the desolate round upon;

And often looked upon the plain, where all
Was busy, stirring light, when by these passed
A pomp of stoled priests-sad Salem! 'twas thy last.

Now, slowly up the sacred mountain turning,
Silently each one mused upon the woe
Zion had known of late, their spirits yearning
To think of her lost glories, and the foe
Scornfully sitting in ber fields, and burning

Through her with havoc, sword, and flame to go;
The Temple's gates received the mourning train,
Never to tread those holy paths again.

The victim slain, why doth the flame its part
Refuse, and back in smoky eddies fly?

Hark! through the night a gust that chills the heart,
A moaning sound, yet nought that met the eye,
A voice of many, "Let us hence depart;"
A sound as if a multitude passed by,
And pale priests bending faces full of dread
Upon each other-Zion's strength had fled.

Yet not for aye, though never from the day,
When Roman Eagles o'er thy ramparts flew,

Hast thou rejoiced, sad City!-far away

Thy children mourn, distressed, dispersed, and few,

Yet cheer thee-He himself shall be their stay,

When they shall look again on him they slew;

Temples and palaces shall leave their dust,

When they on Abram's hope believe,-their father's trust.

ASTERISK.

Μεταβαίνωμεν ἐντενδεν. -Josephus says that during the siege of Jerusalem, at the feast of Pentecost, the priests having gone by night into the temple to perform their wonted rites, perceived, as they said, first a movement, then a sound, and then a voice as of "a great multitude,"-"Let us depart hence".

NO. VI.-VOL. 111.

X