SUPERSTITION OF THE KING OF NAPLES.

On the Monday succeeding wise Lushington rose
A farther debate on Saint Smith to propose,
And he named-sad disaster! the same afternoon
As Graham had fixed for-another Balloon!

Derry down.

295

But the Saints, when they knew it, fear'd lest this mischance
Should again lead the House such a whimsical dance-
So they wrote off to Graham, and begged, as a boon,
That till Parliament's up, he'll postpone his Balloon.

Derry down.
John Bull.

SUPERSTITION OF THE KING OF NAPLES.

LADY MORGAN relates, in her work on Italy, that the King of Naples never goes forth for the chace without arming himself with a heron's foot, which he places in his button-hole, as the most effective charm against the Monacolo (the Neapolitan hobgoblin), or against the ill-luck of meeting an old woman or priest, as he crosses the threshold-both ill-omens for the day. When Lord came to an audience to take leave of his Majesty, on his return to England, the King told him he had a little bouquet d'adieu for him; and when his Lordship probably dreamed of a gold snuff-box, with the Royal face set round with brilliants on the lid, he was presented with the heron's foot, as a spell against all accidents in an English fox-chace, and a remembrance of Royal friendship and Neapolitan field-sports.

Chronicle.

AN INFANT AT HOME.

"BREST, Brest!" said His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, to an humble friend, (who shall be nameless), "where's Brest?" "In France, Sir," was the answer.

“That's odd-very odd, that they have sent him there," said His Royal Highness; and he put his elbows on the breakfast table, and began to think as much as he possibly could.

"Who, Sir?" timidly inquired His Royal Highness's companion.

"Miguel-Miguel- the Infant of Portugal," was the answer.

Quite proper, I think, Sir, with submission," replied the humble companion, jocosely—“ no- · thing can be more natural, Sir, than to send an infant to breast."

Very true," said the Duke, seriously—“ I did not think of that before."

His Royal Highness is not a person to be joked with.

John Bull.

SHAKSPEARE MENDED AND MODERNIZED.

BY A PERSON OF QUALITY.

THE fairy halls, the lofty pinnacles,

The spreading woodlands, the great purse itself,

Yea, all that it containeth, shall be spent,

And, like the leanness of a spendthrift's wallet,
Leave not a rap behind.

Man of Letters.

THE BACHELOR'S SOLILOQUY.

A PARODY.

MARRY, or not to marry? That is the question-
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The sullen silence of these cobweb rooms,
Or seek in festive halls some cheerful dame,
And, by uniting, end it. To live alone-
No more! And by marrying, say we end
The heart-ache, and those throes and make-shifts
Bachelors are heirs to. "Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished.

Perchance in war: aye, there's the rub;
For in the marriage state what ills may come,
When we have shuffled off our liberty,
Must give us pause. There's the respect
That makes us dread the bonds of wedlock;
For who could bear the noise of scolding wives,
"The fits of spleen, th' extravagance of dress,
The thirst for plays, for concerts, and for balls;
The insolence of servants, and the spurns
That patient husbands from their consorts take,
When he himself might his quietus gain,
By living single.

Who would wish to bear

The jeering name of Bachelor,

But that the dread of something after marriage,
(Ah, that vast expenditure of income,
The tongue can scarcely tell), puzzles the will,
And makes us rather choose the single life,
Than go to gaol for debts we know not of!
Economy thus makes Bachelors of us still,
And thus our melancholy resolution
Is still increased upon more various thought.

Herald.

CANT AND HYPOCRISY.

THE following letter was written by Lord Orford, in answer to an application made to him to become President of the Norwich Bible Society:

"SIR-I am surprized and annoyed by the contents of your letter-surprized, because my well-known character should have exempted me from such an application-and annoyed, because it obliges me to have even this communication with you.

"I have long been addicted to the gamingtable; I have lately taken to the turf; I fear I frequently blaspheme; but I have never distributed religious tracts. All this was well known to you and your society; notwithstanding which, you think me a fit person for your president! God forgive your hypocrisy; I would rather live in the land of sinners, than with such saints!

A REPLY TO THE BACHELOR'S SOLILOQUY.

BY A WIDOWER.

To wed, or not to wed? That is the question

Whether 'tis nobler for human kind to fill

The world with pledges of virtuous love,

Or to oppose the laws of God and man,
And crowd the earth with spurious offspring?

To live, to love—yes, more, and have that love return'd,
Cures every heart-ache, and the thousand shocks
"Bachelors are heirs to." "Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be priz'd. To live, to love,
And have that love return'd, is bliss complete!
For in that virtuous love what joys do come,
When we have shuffled off our daily toil,
Present themselves! There's the delight
That makes the wedded state so happy in this life.
To see the smiles, and hear the lisping notes
Of those sweet darlings of our virtuous love;

To trace the features, and behold in miniature
The object of our life, is life indeed.

To crown the whole-who would forego

That sweet communion-that intercourse of soul-
That social interest, and that wise economy,

Which reign predominant in the marriage state—
When he might all those blessings gain

By being married?

Who would not wish to bear

The pleasing name of Husband

Enjoy a fortune, reputation, health,

With cherubs sweet, and partner dear as life,
Than live in dissipation-puzzles not man,

But makes the Bachelor his titles change
For those fine names which now he only knows.
Thus matrimony shines conspicuous still,
And thus the fair one's resolution

Is still increased upon those virtuous thoughts.

Herald.