night, and alarmed-confounded his domestics by calling them all up, and—it is lamentable to have to record such things of such a man-insisting on their illuminating the house-candles in every windowin front and behind! It was fortunate that Lady Emma and her family had not yet returned from House, to witness this unequivocal indication of returning insanity. He himself personally assisted at the ridiculous task of lighting the candles, and putting them in the windows; and when it was completed, actually harangued the assembled servants on the signal triumph he and the country had obtained that night in the House of Commons, and concluded by ordering them to extinguish the lights, and adjourn to the kitchen to supper, when he would presently join them, and give them a dozen of wine! He was as good as his word; yes, Mr. Stafford sat at the head of his confounded servants-few in number, on account of the family's absence, and engaged in the most uproarious hilarity! Fortunately, most fortunately, his conduct was unhesitatingly attributed to intoxication-in which condition he was really carried to bed at an advanced hour in the morning, by those whom nothing but their bashful fears had saved from being similarly overcome by the wine they had been drinking. All this was told me by the coachman, who had communicated with me formerly-and with tears, for he was an old and faithful servant. He assiduously kept up among his fellow-servants the notion that their master's drunkenness was the cause of his extraordinary behaviour.

I called on him the day after, and found him sitting in his library, dictating to his secretary, whom he directed to withdraw as soon as I entered. He then drew his chair close to mine, and burst into tears. "Doctor, would you believe it," said he, "I was horridly drunk last night-I can't imagine how-and am sure I did something or other very absurd among the servants. I dare not, of course, ask any of them

-and am positively ashamed to look even my valet in the face!"

66

Poh, poh-semel insanivimus omnes," I stammered, attempting to smile-scarce knowing what to say.

"Don't-don't desert me, doctor!"-he sobbed, clasping my hand, and looking sorrowfully in my face; "don't you desert me, my tried friend. Everybody is forsaking me!-the king hates me-the Commons despise me-the people would have my blood, if they dared!-And yet why?-What have I done?-God knows, I have done every thing for the best indeed, indeed I have!"-I continued grasping his hand in silence.

"There's a terrible plot hatching against me!Hush!" He rose, and bolted the door. "Did you see that fellow whom I ordered out on your entrance?" -naming his private secretary. "Well, that infamous fellow thinks he is to succeed me in my office, and has actually gained over the king and several of the aristocracy to his interest!"

"Nonsense-nonsense-stuff!-You have wine in your head, Mr. Stafford," said I, angrily, trying to choke down my emotions.

"No, sir-sober enough now, Doctor -I'll tell you what (albeit unused to the melting mood, has thus overcome me,-Lady Emma favours the scoundrel! They correspond! My children even are gained over!-But Emma, my wife, my love, who could have thought it!" * * I succeeded in calming hin., and he began to converse on different subjects, although the fiend was manifest again! "Doctor I'll intrust you with a secret—a state secret! You must know that I have long entertained the idea of uniting all the European states into one vast republic, and have at last arranged a scheme which will, I think, be unhesitatingly adopted I have written to Prince on the subject, and expect his answer soon! Isn't it a grand thought?'

I assented, of course. in the annals of eternity, beyond all Roman and all Grecian fame," he continued, waving his hand oratorically; "but I've been-yes, yes-premature! -My secret is safe with you, Doctor

"It will emblazon my name

"Oh certainly," I replied, with a melancholy air, uttering a deep sigh.

"But now to business. I'll tell you why I've sent for you." I had called unasked, as the reader will recollect. "I'll tell you," he continued, taking my hand affectionately; "Doctor I have known you now for many years, ever since we were at Cambridge together," (my heart ached at the recollection,)" and we have been good friends ever since. I have noticed that you have never asked a favour from me since I knew you. Every one else has teased me-but I have never had a request preferred me from you, my dear friend." He burst into tears, mine very nearly overflowing. There was no longer any doubt that Mr. Stafford-the great, the gifted Mr. Stafford, was sitting before me in a state of idiotcy!-of MADNESS! I felt faint and sick as he proceeded." Well! I thank God I have it now in my power to reward you-to offer you something that will fully show the love I bear you, and my unlimited confidence in your talents and integrity. I have determined to recall our ambassador at the court of, and shall supply his place"-he looked at me with a good-natured smile-" by my friend Dr.

"He leaned back in his chair, and eyed me with a triumphant, a gratified air, evidently preparing himself to be overwhelmed with my thanks. In one instant, however, "a change came o'er the aspect of his dream." His features grew suddenly disturbed, now flushed, now pale; his manner grew restless and embarrassed, and I felt convinced that a lucid interval had occurred, that a consciousness of his having been either saying or doing something very absurd had that instant flashed across his mind. VOL. II.-F

"Ah,

I see, Doctor!" he resumed, in an altered tone, speaking hesitatingly, while a vivid glance shot from his eye into my very soul, as though he would see whether I had detected the process of thought which had passed through his mind; "you look surprisedha, ha!—and well you may! But now I'll explain the riddle. You, must know that Lord is expecting to be our new ambassador, and in fact I must offer it him; but-but-I wish to pique him into declining it, when I'll take offence-by-by telling him -hinting carelessly, that one of my friends had the prior refusal of it!"

Did not the promptitude and plausibility of this pretext savour of madness? He hinted soon after that he had much business in hand, and I withdrew. I fell back in my carriage, and resigned myself to bitter and agonizing reflections on the scene I had just quitted. What was to be done? Mr. Stafford, by some extravagant act, might commit himself frightfully with public affairs.

Lady Emma, painful as the task was, must be written to. Measures MUST now be had recourse to. The case admitted of no further doubt. Yes-this great man must be put into constraint, and that immediately. In the tumult of my thoughts, I scarce knew what to decide on; but at last I ordered the man to drive to the houses of Sir and Dr. to consult with them on the proper course to be pursued.

Oh, God!-Oh, horror !-Oh, my unhappy soul!Despair! Hark-what do I hear?-Do I hear aright

*

*

*

Have I SEEN aright-or is it all a dream?-Shall I wake to-morrow, and find it false?

CHAPTER II

A SLIGHT COLD-RICH AND POOR-GRAVE DOINGS.

A Slight Cold.

CONSIDER "a slight cold" to be in the nature of a chill, caught by a sudden contact with your grave; or as occasioned by the damp finger of Death laid upon you, as it were, to mark you for His, in passing to the more immediate object of his commission. Let this be called croaking, and laughed at as such, by those who are "awearied of the painful round of life," and are on the lookout for their dismissal from it; but be learned off by heart, and remembered as having the force and truth of gospel, by all those who would " measure out their span upon the earth," and are conscious of any constitutional flaw or feebleness; who are distinguished by any such tendency deathward as long necks-narrow, chicken-chests-very fair complexions-requisite sympathy with atmospheric variations; or, in short, exhibit any symptoms of an asthmatic or consumptive character, ir they choose to-NEGLECT A SLIGHT COLD.

Let not those complain of being bitten by a reptile, which they have cherished to maturity in their very bosoms, when they might have crushed it in the egg! Now, if we call “a slight cold” the egg,* and pleurisy -inflammation of the lungs-asthma-CONSUMPTION, the venomous reptile-the matter will be no more than correctly figured. There are many ways in which this "egg" may be deposited and hatched.

* Omnium prope quibus affligimur morborum origo et quasi semen, says an intelligent medical writer of the last century.