stand each other without being driven to that alternative."

“ Well then, sir, abjure her this moment, and resign her to me, or one of our lives must be sacrificed.” While he was saying this, Daniel laid his hands on one of the pistols, and appeared as if examining it, which motion the captain instantly took for a signal of acquiescence, and “changed his hand, and checked his pride.”—“ I hope,” continued he, evidently much softened, "that there shall be no need of resorting to desperate measures. In a word, the affair is this,— I have a written promise from Mrs Bouncer, that, if ever she married a second time, her hand was mine. It matters not with the legality of the measure, though the proceeding took place in the lifetime of her late husband, my friend, Captain Bouncer. It is quite an affair of honour. I assure you, sir, she has vowed to accept of none but me, Captain Thwackeray, as his successor. If you have paid your addresses to her in ignorance of this, I forgive you; if not, we stand opposed as before."

"Oh ho! if that be the way the land lies,” replied Daniel, with a shrill whistle," she is yours, captain, for me, and heartily welcome. I resign her unconditionally, as you military gentlemen phrase it. A great deal of trouble is spared by one's speaking out. If you had told me this, there would have been no reason for loading the pistols. May I now wish you a good morning. Od save us! but these are fearrul weapons on the table! Good morning, sir.”

"Bless your heart, no," said the Captain Thwackeray, evidently much relieved from his distressing situation; “oh no, sir,—not before we breakfast to

gether;"-and, so saying, before Daniel had a moment's time for reply, he pulled the bell violently.

Bill, bring in breakfast for two as expeditiously as possible.-(Exit Bill.)—I knew that no man of honour, such as I know or believe you to be, (your appearance bespeaks it,) would act such a selfish part as deprive me of my legal right; and I trust that this transaction shall not prevent friendly intercourse between us, if I come,- -as my present intention is,-to up my abode among you in this town."

take

66

By no means," said Daniel; "Mrs Bouncer is yours for me; and, as to matrimonials, I am otherwise provided. There are no grounds for contention, captain."

Breakfast was discussed with admirable appetite by both. The contents of the pistols were drawn, the powder carefully returned into the flask, the two bullets into the waistcoat-pocket, and the instruments of destruction themselves deposited in a green woollen After cordially shaking each other by the hand, the captain saw Mr Daniel to the door, and made a very low congé, besides kissing his hand at parting.

case.

The captain we leave to fight his own battles, and return to our hero, whose stoicism, notwithstanding its firmness, did not prevent him from feeling considerably on the occasion. Towards Mrs Bouncer he had not a Romeo-enthusiasm, but certainly a stronger attachment than he had ever experienced for any other of her sex. Though the case was hopeless, he did not allow himself to pine away with " a green and yellow melancholy," but reconciled himself to his fate with the more facility, as the transaction between Thwackeray and her must have taken place during

the lifetime of her late husband, which considerably lessened her in his estimation; having been educated a rigid Presbyterian, and holding in great abhorrence all such illustrations of military morality. "No, no," thought he; “my loss is more apparent than real: the woman who was capable of doing such a thing would not content herself with stopping even there. Miss Jenny Drybones is the woman for me,-I am the man for her money.” And here a thousand selfish notions crowded on his heart, and confirmed him in his determination, which he set about without delay.

There was little need of delicacy in the matter; and Daniel went to work quite in a business-like style. He commenced operations on the offensive, offered Miss Jenny his arm, squeezed her hand, buttered her with love-phrases, ogled her out of countenance, and haunted her like a ghost. Refusal was in vain; and, after a faint, a feeble, and sham shew of resistance, the damsel drew down her flag of defiance, and submitted to honourable terms of capitulation.

Ten days after Miss Jenny's surrender, their names were proclaimed in church; and, as the people stared at each other in half-wonder and half-good humour, the precentor continued, after a slight pause," There is also a purpose of marriage between Mrs Martha Bouncer, at present residing in the parish, and Augustus Thwackeray, Esq., Captain of the Bengal Rangers ;-whoever can produce any lawful objections against the same, he is requested to do so,-time and place convenient."

Every forenoon and evening between that and the marriage-day, Daniel and his intended enjoyed a de

lightful tête-a-tête in the lady's garden, walking armin-arm, and talking, doubtless, of home-concerns, and the Elysian prospects that awaited them. The pair would have formed a fit subject for the pencil of a Hogarth,-about "to become one flesh," and so different in appearance. The lady, long-visaged and wrinkled,-stiff-backed and awkward,-long as a May-pole ;-the bridegroom, jolly-faced like Bacchus, stumpy like an alder-tree, and round as a beer-barrel.

Ere Friday had beheld its meridian sunshine, two carriages drawn up at the door, and drivers with white favours and Limerick gloves, told the attentive world that Dr Redbeak had made them one flesh. Shortly after the ceremony, the happy couple drove away amid the cheering of an immense crowd of neighbours, who had planted themselves around the door, to make observations on what was going on. Another coincidence, worthy of remark, also occurred on this auspicious day. At the same hour, had the fair Widow Martha yielded up her lily-white hand to the whiskered, ferocious-looking, but gallant Captain Thwackeray; and the carriages containing the respective marriage-parties passed one another in the street at a good round pace. The postilions, with their large flaunting ribbon-knots, huzzaed in meeting, brandishing their whips in the air, as if betokening individual victory. The captain, looking out, saw Miss Jenny, in maiden-pride, sitting stately beside her chosen tobacconist; and Daniel, glancing to the left, beheld Mrs Martha blushing by the side of her mustachioed warrior. Both waved their hands in passing, and pursued their destinies.

ON THE DEATH OF LORD BYRON.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF W. MÜLLER.

My task is done, my song has ceased, my theme
Has died into an echo.

*

CH. HAROLD.

SEVEN and thirty funeral shots! for whom? I fain

would know.

Are they seven and thirty fields in which he met and smote the foe?

Are they seven and thirty wounds which on his breast the hero bears?

Name me the mighty dead whose loss his country's grief declares.

It speaks no wounds, no victories, that thunder's sullen roar,

Which from Missolunghi's ramparts high rolls deepening to the shore,

And which, like a dungeon's echo, summons up to

life again

The heart which sorrow's tidings had benumb'd with fear and pain.

* The author of this poem is the same Müller whose tragedy of Guilt has been so well translated by Mr R. P. Gillies. The elegant version, which we now venture to insert, has been much handed about in private, and is ascribed to the pen of an accomplished young nobleman of very high rank, whose name will at once occur to every English admirer of German genius.