abominations and uncleanness, and had wasted the treasure of the children of Bull in debauchery, and the tradesmen of Bull wept, and put on sackcloth and ashes; for he was deep in their debt, and they mourned that they could not recover it.

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And they cried out, with loud voices, "Oh, Gorge, thou son of Guelpho, pay thy people."

'And the king's son was troubled at the words of the children of Bull, and he smote his whiskers, and cursed them.

'And he took unto wife Enilorae, the daughter of Brun.

'But the concubines and evil counsellors were wroth that he had taken her to wife, seeing that he would no longer give unto them riches and much treasure.

And they conspired together to fill his heart with lies, and they tempted him, and mocked his wife Enilorae.

And they made him drunk with wine; and he mocked her also.

'And there was murmuring all over the land, and the people hated Gorge, because he had dared to mock Enilorae his wife.

DRUNK EVERY DAY.

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And Gorge was drunk with wine every day, from the rising of the sun to the going down

of the same, and his face was bloated with drink, and the tip of his nose was of a blue colour.

'Now King Guelpho waxed old, and his sight departed from him, and his senses fled, and he was like a new-born infant.

'And the nobles of the land and the captains of the hosts, and all the wise men gathered themselves together, and they mourned because of the exceeding weakness of the king.

And they said unto each other, "It is fitting we should have another ruler, seeing the king can no longer govern his people," and they appointed Gorge his son to reign over them.

'And they called him re-gent, which, in the Bullish language, signifieth, “No longer blackguard," and all the people prayed he might alter his ways, and do that which was right.

'And he was two score and eight years old when he filled the seat of his father, and he wore a wig of many curls.

'And Queen Snuffy, his mother, died, and she was buried in the sepulchre of the princes of Bull.

And she bequeathed unto her loving son Gorge a huge vessel of Strasburg, and tears came into his eyes.

And the people put on black garments, and the tobacconists mourned over all the land, and there was a fall in the price of snuff of one silver sixpence in the pound.

'And Enilorae, his wife, said unto her counsellors, "Wherefore should I tarry longer in the land, seeing my husband setteth an evil example and debaucheth the morals of the people? Verily I say unto ye, I will leave this land, and travel to some far country, for my husband protecteth me not, neither endeavoureth he to do good unto me."

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And she departed out of the land, saying, My husband Gorge disregardeth his marriage vow, neither careth he for my welfare."

Perhaps the height of irony was reached when addresses were proposed to be offered to His Majesty, to congratulate him on 'the happy escape of his illustrious consort from the snares of her enemies;' and the depth of ridicule sounded by the following advertisement:

A STRANGE ADVERTISEMENT.

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'STRAYED AND MISSING.

An infirm elderly gentleman in a Public Office lately left his home, just after dreadfully ill-using his wife about half-a-crown, and trying to beat her. He had long complained a great deal of his forehead, and lately had a leech put upon him. He was last seen walking swiftly towards the Horns without a crown to his hat, accompanied by some evil-disposed persons, who tied a great green bag to his tail full of crackers, which he mistook for sweetmeats, and burnt himself dreadfully. Every person he met in this deplorable condition tried to persuade him to go back, but in vain. He is very deaf and very obstinate, and cannot bear to be looked at or spoken to. It is supposed he has been carried off by some artful female. He may be easily known by his manners. He fancies himself the politest man in Europe, because he knows how to bow and to offer a pinch of snuff; and he thinks himself the greatest man in Europe, because people have humoured him and let him have his own way. He is so fond of tailoring that he lately began

VOL. IV.

Y

a suit that will take him his life to complete. He delights in playing at soldiers, supposes himself a cavalry officer, and makes speeches that others write for him in a field-marshal's uniform. Sometimes he fancies himself "Glorious Apollo." His concerns are very much deranged. Not long ago he imported a vast quantity of Italian images at enormous prices upon credit; since then things have gone all against him, and he has been in a very desponding state. It is of the utmost consequence to himself that he should be at his post, or he may lose his place, one of his predecessors some time ago having been cashiered for his misconduct. If this should meet his eye, it is earnestly requested that he should return to his duty.'

Nor was it at the king alone that these poison-tipped arrows were driven. One, at least, of his royal brothers came in for a share of them; this was the Duke of Clarence, afterwards known as His Sacred Majesty, William IV. He had once been the most friendly member of his family towards the queen, but had in her days of danger not only forsaken, but grossly calumniated her.