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gy, that we had hardly prepared ourselves for work, before he had cleared away nearly the whole of the mound. The rain soon abated, and the lightning ceased for a considerable interval, though thunder was heard occasionally rumbling sullenly in the distance, as if expressing anger at our unholy doings-at least I felt it so. The pitchy darkness continued, so that we could scarce see one another's figures. We worked on in silence, as fast as our spades could be got into the ground; taking it in turns, two by two, as the grave would not admit of more. On-on -on we worked, till we had hollowed out about three feet of earth. Tip then hastily joined a long iron screw, or borer, which he thrust into the ground, for the purpose of ascertaining the depth at which the coffin yet lay from us. To our vexation, we found a distance of three feet had yet to be got through. "Sure, and by the soul of St Patrick, but we'll not be down by the morning!" said Tip, as he threw down the instrument, and resumed his spade. We were all discouraged! Oh, how greatly I wished myself at home, in my snug little bed in the Borough! How I cursed the Quixotism that had led me into such an undertaking! I had no time, however, for reflection, as it was my turn to relieve one of the diggers; so into the grave I jumped, and worked away as lustily as before. While I was thus engaged, a sudden noise, close to our ears, startled me so, that I protest I thought I should drop down dead in the grave I was robbing. I and my fellow-digger dropped our spades, and all four stood still for a second or two, in an ecstasy of fearful apprehension. We could not see more than a few inches around us, but heard the grass trodden by approaching feet! They proved to be those of an Ass, that was turned at night into the churchyard, and had gone on eating his way towards us; and, while we were standing in mute expectation of what was to come next, opened on us with an astounding hee-haw hee-haw! hee-haw! Even after we had discovered the ludicrous nature of the interruption, we were too agitated to laugh! The brute was actually close upon us, and had given tongue from under poor Tip's elbow, having approached him

from behind as he stood leaning on his spade. Tip started suddenly backward against the animal's head, and fell down. Away sprung the jackass, as much confounded as Tip, kicking and scampering like a mad creature among the tombstones, and hee-hawing incessantly, as if a hundred devils had got into it for the purpose of discomfiting us. I felt so much fury, and fear, lest the noise should lead to our discovery, that I could have killed the brute, if it had been within my reach, while Tip stammered in an affrighted whisper

Och, the baste! Och, the baste! The big black divel of a baste! The murtherous-murthering"-—and a great many epithets of the same sort. We gradually recovered from the agitation which this provoking interruption had occasioned; and Tip, under the promise of two bottles of whisky as soon as we arrived safe at home with our prize, renewed his exertions, and dug with such energy, that we soon cleared away the remainder of the superincumbent earth, and stood upon the bare lid of the coffin. The grapplers, with ropes attached to them, were then fixed in the sides and extremities, and we were in the act of raising the coffin, when the sound of a hu man voice, accompanied with footsteps, fell on our startled ears. We heard both distinctly, and crouched down close over the brink of the grave, awaiting in breathless_suspense a corroboration of our fears. After a pause of five or six minutes, however, finding that the sounds were not renewed, we began to breathe freer, persuaded that our ears must have deceived us. Once more we resumed our work, succeeded in hoisting up the coffin-not without a slip, however, which nearly precipitated it down again to the bottom, with all four of us upon it-and depositing it on the grave-side. Before proceeding to use our screws, or wrenchers, we once more looked and listened, and listened and looked; but neither seeing nor hearing any thing, we set to work, and prized off the lid in a twinkling, and a transient glimpse of moonlight disclosed to us the shrowded inmate-all white and damp. I removed the face-cloth, and unpinned the cap, while M—— loosed the sleeves from the wrists. Thus were we engaged, when E-,

us.

66

who had hold of the feet, ready to lift abide the issue. At the moment of them out, suddenly let them go my ensconcing myself, the sound of gasped-" Oh, my God! there they the person's footsteps who had folare!" and placed his hand on my lowed me suddenly ceased. I heard arm. He shook like an aspen leaf. a splashing sound, then a kicking and I looked towards the quarter where scrambling, a faint stifled cry of, "Ugh his eyes were directed, and, sure -oh-ugh!" and all was still. Doubtenough, saw the figure of a man-if less it must be one of my companot two-moving stealthily towards nions, who had been wounded. What Well, we're discovered, that's could I do, however? I did not know clear," I whispered as calmly as I in what direction he lay-the night could. "We shall be murdered!" was pitch dark-and if I crept from groaned E- "Lend me one of my hiding-place, for all I knew, I the pistols you have with you," said might be shot myself. I shall never M-, resolutely. "By -, I'll forget that hour-no, never! There have a shot for my life, however!" was I, squatting like a toad on the As for poor Tip, who had heard every wet grass and weeds, not daring to syllable of this startling colloquy, do more than breathe! Here was a and himself seen the approaching predicament! I could not conjecfigures, he looked at me in silence, ture how the affair would termithe image of blank horror! I could nate. Was I to lie where I was till have laughed even then, to see his daylight? What was become of my staring black eyes-his little cock- companions?-While I was turning ed ruby-tinted nose-his chattering these thoughts in my mind, and wonteeth. 66 Hush-hush!" said I, cock- dering that all was so quiet, my ear ing my pistol, while M-- did the caught the sound of the splashing of same; for none but myself knew water, apparently at but a yard or they were unloaded. To add to our two's distance, mingled with the consternation, the malignant moon sounds of a half-smothered human withdrew the small scantling of light voice-" Ugh! ugh! Och, murther! she had been doling out to us, and Murther! murther!"-another splash sunk beneath a vast cloud, "black" and isn't it drowned and kilt I as Erebus," but not before we had caught a glimpse of two more figures moving towards us in an opposite direction." Surrounded!" two of us muttered in the same breath. We all rose to our feet, and stood together, not knowing what to do-unable in the darkness to see one another distinctly. Presently we heard a voice say, "Where are they? where? Sure I saw them! Oh, there they are! Halloa-halloa!”

That was enough-the signal for our flight. Without an instant's pause, or uttering another syllable, off we sprung like small-shot from a gun's mouth, all of us in different directions, we knew not whither. I heard the report of a gun-mercy on me! and pelted away, scarce knowing what I was about, dodging among the graves, -now coming full-butt against a plaguy tombstone, then stumbling on the slippery grass-while some one followed close at my heels panting and puffing, but whether friend or foe, I knew not. At length I stumbled against a large tombstone; and finding it open at the two ends, crept under it, resolved there to

am"

"Whew! Tip in trouble," thought I, not daring to speak. Yes-it was poor Tip, I afterwards found-who had followed at my heels, scampering after me as fast as fright could drive him, till his career was unexpectedly ended by his tumblingsouse-head over heels, into a newlyopened grave in his path, with more than a foot of water in it. There the poor fellow remained, after recovering from the first shock of his fall, not daring to utter a word for some time, lest he should be discoveredstraddling over the water with his toes and elbows stuck into the loose soil on each side, to support him. This was his interesting position, as he subsequently informed me, at the time of uttering the sounds which first attracted my attention. Though not aware of his situation at the time, I was almost choked with laughter as he went on with his soliloquy, somewhat in this strain:

"Och, Tip, ye ould divel! Don't it sarve ye right, ye fool? Ye villainous ould coffin-robber! Won't ye burn for this hereafter, ye sinner?

Ulaloo! When ye are dead yourself, may ye be treated like that poor cratur-and yourself alive to see it! Och, hubbaboo! hubbaboo! Isn't it sure that I'll be drowned, an' then it's kilt I'll be !”—a loud splash, and a pause for a few moments, as if he was re-adjusting his footing-" Och, an' I'm catching my dith of could! Fait, an' it's a divel à drop o' the two bottles o' whisky I'll ever see-Och, och, och!"—another splash-" Och, an' isn't this uncomfortable! Och, an' if ever I come out of this-sha'n't I be dead before I do ?"

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Tip-Tip-Tip!" I whispered, in a low tone. There was a dead silence. "Tip, Tip, where are you? What's the matter, eh?"-No answer; but he muttered in a low tone to himself" Where am I, by my soul! Isn't it dead, and kilt, and drowned, and murthered I amthat's all!"

Tip-Tip-Tip!" I repeated, a little louder.

"Tip, indeed! Fait, ye may call, bad luck to ye-whoever ye arebut its divel a word 'll I be after spaking to ye."

"Tip, you simpleton! It's IMr

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In an instant there was a sound of jumping and splashing, as if surprise had made him slip from his standing again, and he called out, " Whoo! Whoo! an' is't you, sweet Mr What is the matter wid ye? Are ye kilt? Where are they all? Have they taken ye away, every mother's son of you?" he asked eagerly, in a breath.

"Why, what are you doing, Tip? Where are you?"

rolling over each other, grasping one another's collars, gasping and panting as if in mortal struggle. The moon suddenly emerged, and who do you think, reader, was E-'s antagonist? Why, the person whose appearance had discomfited and affrighted us all-OUR COACHMAN.That worthy individual, alarmed at our protracted stay, had, contrary to our injunctions, left his coach to come and search after us. He it was whom we had seen stealing towards us; his steps-his voice had alarmed us, for he could not see us distinctly enough to discover whether we were his fare or not. He was on the point of whispering my name, when we should all have understood one another-when lo, we all started off in the manner which has been described; and he himself, not knowing that he was the reason of it, had taken to his heels, and fled for his life! He supposed we had fallen into a sort of ambuscade. He happened to hide himself behind the tombstone next but one to that which sheltered E. Finding all quiet, he and E, as if by natural consent, were groping from their hidingplaces, when they unexpectedly fell foul of one another-each too af frighted to speak- and hence the scuffle.

After this satisfactory denoue?ment, we all repaired to the grave's mouth, and found the corpse and coffin precisely as we had left them. We were not many moments in tàking out the body, stripping it, and thrusting it into the sack we had brought. We then tied the top of the sack, carefully deposited the shroud, &c., in the coffin, re-screwed down the lid-fearful-impious mockery! and consigned it once more to its resting-place-Tip scattering a handful of earth on the lid, and exclaiming reverently," Anʼ may the Lord forgive us for what we have done to ye!" The coachman and I then took the body between us to the coach, leaving Mand E, and Tip, to fill up the grave.

"Fait, an' it's being washed I am, in the feet, and in the queerest tub your honour ever saw!"-A noise of scuffling not many yards off silenced us both in an instant. Presently I distinguished the voice of Ecalling out," Help, M-!" my name "Where are you?" The noise increased, and seemed nearer than before. I crept from my lurkingplace, and aided at Tip's resurrec-, tion, and both of us hurried towards the spot where the sound came from. By the faint moonlight, I could just see the outlines of two figures violently struggling and grappling together. Before I could come up to them, both fell downlocked in each other's arms,

Our troubles were not yet ended, however. Truly it seemed as though Providence was throwing every obstacle in our way. Nothing went right! On reaching the spot where we had left the coach, behold it lay

several yards further in the lane, tilted into the ditch-for the horses, being hungry, and left to themselves, in their anxiety to graze on the verdant bank of the hedge, had contrived to overturn the vehicle in the ditch-and one of the horses was kicking vigorously when we came up-his whole body off the ground, and resting on that of his companion. We had considerable difficulty in righting the coach, as the horses were inclined to be obstreperous. We succeeded, however-deposited our unholy spoils within, turned the horses' heads towards the high-road, and then, after enjoining Jehu to keep his place on the box, I went to see how my companions were getting on. They had nearly completed their task, and told me that "shovelling in, was surprisingly easier than

shovelling out!" We took great pains to leave every thing as neat, and as nearly resembling what we found it, as possible, in order that our visit might not be suspected. We then carried each our own tools, and hurried as fast as possible to our coach, for the dim twilight had already stolen a march upon us, devoutly thankful that, after so many interruptions, we had succeeded in effecting our object.

It was broad daylight before we reached town-and a wretched coachcompany we looked-all wearied and dirty-Tip especially, who snored in the corner as comfortably as if he had been warm in his bed. I heartily resolved, with him, on leaving the coach, that it should be " the divel's own dear self only that should timpt me out agin body-snatching!"*

The Editor of these papers begs to inform all those who are so good as to transmit to him, through the Publishers of this Magazine, "Subjects for Passages"-to be " worked up in his peculiar way"-that they have totally mistaken the character of this series of papers, in imagining them to be any thing else than what they profess to be-the bona fide results of the individual's experience. Neither the Editor of these " Passages," nor their original writer, is any gatherer of other men's stuff." All such uncalled-for communications, therefore, will experience the benefit of the "arrangements for instant cremation," spoken of by the Editor in the last Number, without ever reaching the hands of the gentleman they are addressed to.

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On examining the body, we found that Sir ———'s suspicions were fully verified. It was disease of the heart-but of too complicated a nature to be made intelligible to general readers. I never heard that the girl's friends discovered our doings; and for all they know, she is now mouldering away in churchyard; whereas,

in point of fact, her bleached skeleton adorns -'s surgery; and a preparation of

her heart enriches -'s museum !

ON THE FINANCIAL MEASURES OF A REFORMED PARLIAMENT.

No. I.

THE WHIG BUDGET.

"DE mortuis nil nisi bonum," is the charitable maxim of private life; and it admits of application to the political projects of legislative, as well as the characters of individual life. The Whig Budget is now extinct: The good sense of the nation has revolted against its absurdity; but important instruction may be drawn from its character, as to the future measures of finance to which we are to be subjected by a reforming government.

That the Whig Budget is the most complete failure which has occurred in the memory of any man living, is now admitted, even by the warmest partisans of Ministers. Between concessions to avoid, and retractions consequent on defeat, hardly a vèstige of it remains. With the exception of the little fragment of the steam-boat tax, not one of the proposed new taxes is preserved; and how Government are to meet the public expenses with the duties they have abandoned, without any to supply their place, is a problem which it remains for them to solve.

That the Cabinet contains several able men is quite certain. No one can have heard Lord Brougham's, Lord Grey's, or Mr Charles Grant's speeches, without being convinced of that fact. How then has it happened, that from such a source, so miserable a project has proceeded; one which wars alike against philosophical principle, national integrity, and important interests? The answer is to be found in the known difference between men of speculation and men of action, and in the homage which those who rest on the support of the populace are compelled to pay to their wishes.

Those to be imposed were on—

Transfers of Funded Property.
Transfers of Landed Property.
On Canadian Timber.
On Steam-Boats.
On Raw Cotton.
On Cape Wine.

The reduction of the duty on seaborne coals was a just and judicious measure. Being a local tax, which pressed with severity on a necessary of life in the metropolis, from which a great part of the country was exempted, its removal was expedient.

The reduction of the duty on candles, though not perhaps so important a boon as the removal of the tax on soap, or some other articles of primary necessity, may also be considered as unexceptionable.

With these exceptions, the Budget was a tissue of philosophical and political error.

What could be more absurd than

the abolition of the duty on tobacco? Can any object be a fairer subject of taxation than one which is neither a necessary nor a convenience of life, but which, nevertheless, from its general use, yielded so large a revenue as L.800,000 a-year? What could have induced any rational man to have contemplated a reduction of this duty, it is difficult to imagine. It is, literally speaking, a tax on a disgusting luxury, which degrades the higher, and brutalizes the lower orders, which has been adopted by fops from the imitation of foreign fashion, and by operatives from the example of foreign grossness. It may safely be affirmed, that the habit of smoking permanently injures the manners of the lower orders, and can never become general without lower

The taxes proposed to be taken off ing the national character; and there are those

On Sea-borne Coals.

On Candles.

On Tobacco.

On Calico Prints,

is a reason for this, of universal application-Women nowhere smoke, and the practice is everywhere revolting to their feelings. The prevalence of this custom, therefore, is a continual indulgence of selfish gra

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