6.

And others communed together, saying, What is this which is exalted above the heads of the people, in the likeness of the accursed thing, whereon the thief is hanged by the neck until his breath departeth from him?

7. And lo! there was a voice heard saying aloud,-THIS IS THE ARK OF THE NEW COVENANT.

8. ¶ But while they yet spake, there appeared upon the Ark as it were three hosts, with banners.

9. And there came forth in the midst of them the man Adam,* which judgeth the city, having in his hand a written scroll.

10. And he cried with a loud voice, and said, Hear all ye people, and give ear, for the King hath written unto you, choose now a man meet to speak for you in the Great Assembly, in the place of the man Francis, which is now a judge.

11. If, therefore, there be any among you who knoweth such a man, let him stand forth and declare his knowledge.

12. Then there came forth a tall man of a comely aspect, which dwelleth in the street of Princes, which had been taken to prison, because he could not give tribute unto the Priests. 13. Also a young man which is a scribe;

14. Of whose chattering there is no end.

15. And they spake to the people of James, the son of Roger, magnifying him above all men, and saying:—

16. Hath he not burst your bonds asunder, and cast your cords from ye?

17. And the men from Miletus shouted aloud, and danced before the Ark, saying,-Thou hast said; verily, he is the man, and wisdom shall die with him.

18. Then there came forth the fair mant which dealeth in woman's apparel, clothed as one having authority, having round his neck a chain of the most fine gold, weighing seven shekels;

* Adam Duff, Esq. Sheriff-Depute of Edinburgh.

† A fair man-Lord Provost Spittal who was attired in his civic chain and

robes.

24. The price* whereof is a burthen to the city unto this

4. The he was as the hat of the King's physician;

Or the sewer of Lebanon, looking three different

22. And be essayed to speak for the man John, which was The Lag's volder: but they shouted against him, and gnashei in in with their teeth, and heard him not.

25 St beat they also with the man Thomas, which is a jester before the Lord-whose mirth maketh the heart sad; Tudies extech be more and more.

24 Hividit there straightway came forth another jester, even the man Peter, which was the prophet:

25. And as be gint his loins to speak for him who was the maker of charios, a murmuring was heard in the Ark,—who is be that we should hearken unto him?

2. Doch knowledge come from the wine-vat, or increase of knowledge from the flesh-pot?

27. Is wisdom born of the abundance of the belly, or the fullness of the womb, hath it at any time brought forth understanding?

28. Have they brought up BEHEMOTH from the waters,— have they taken LEVIATHAN with a hook?

29. Where is the scribe Francis, which came forth of old time upon the Ark, together with the chief of the money changers, and the people were silent before him.—Why is he not here?

30. But many said, he is not here, because he hath fled into a far city, lest peradventure we should again say unto him, get thee up into the Ark, and speak for us unto the people.

31. For he is a man that lacketh valour for the battle, and when aforetime he went up into the Ark, and heard the shouting of the men of Miletus, the form of his countenance was changed, and his heart was disquieted within him.

The price-An allusion to the city debt.

32. Therefore tarrieth he in the far city, and maketh as though he had been wounded as he fled.

33. ¶ But another said, of a surety he will return to the feast.

34. For he is a man valiant against the wine pot, neither feareth he when the multitude of meat-offerings are arrayed against him.

35. He snuffeth up the savour afar,—he crieth, ha! ha! amidst the noise of the banquet.

36.

But the man Peter lifted up his voice and said,Men and brethren, behold, I am one of yourselves,

*

SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT, AS PROPOSED AT A CABINET COUNCIL ON SUNDAY EVENING.

Upon the 4th of February 1834, King William the Fourth opened the Parliament in person, and in anticipation of the speech delivered on such occasions, the ensuing jeu d'esprit was circulated throughout the Parliament House, in guise of a humble broadside, and sold at the low charge of one halfpenny.

BY EXPRESS.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

IN meeting my faithful people for the second time under a reformed constitution, I am happy to congratulate the nation on the advancement of that general prosperity and happiness which prevails throughout the country at large, with the exception of those numerous instances of local distress with which, in common with you, I deeply sympathise. At no period in our history have these peculiar features more remarkably characterised the aspect of public affairs in this empire, and, I doubt not, that with your able and cordial assistance, such a state of matters may, under the blessing of Providence, be rendered permanent.

us shall go up to the Great Assembly,* to sit there in his place?

3. And one said, I have spoken unto a certain young man, which is the chief of the money-changers, but he will not go.t

4. Another said, I have written unto one which is a Scribe, and who is fled into a far city, but he has been maimed and halt for many days.‡

5. And they wist not what to do.

6. But lo! while they yet doubted, there arose unto them one John, whose father was a Tanner, a maker of chariots, and a man skilful in much cunning workmanship, and who had ruled over the city, when the children of darkness were yet stronger than the children of light :

7. And he cried with a weak voice, and said, I will go up to the Great Assembly, to sit in the place of Francis, which is now a judge:

8. Yea, I will leave my chariots, and my cunning workmen, and my ornaments of silver and brass, and much leather; all this will I do for you, because there is none else. Therefore let my name be written upon the wall, and be heard throughout the city as a pleasant song.

9. But some murmured, saying, who is he that he should sit in the place of Francis, and that his name should be written on the wall?

10. Is he not the son of the tanner which dwelt by the stinking pool?

11. And others questioned him, saying, art thou not he who defiled the temple, and reviled a certain of the Priests?

12. But he denied it with an oath, saying, I am not the man; verily, I am he that will guard the Temple, and the towers thereof; with my chariots will I guard it, and with my whole strength.

13. The Priests also will I defend, that none may touch a hair of their heads; am I not myself a servant with them

* Great Assembly-House of Commons.

† Sir John Forbes, Bart.

Sir Francis Walker Drummond of Hawthornden, Bart.

in the temple, even one of those which receive tribute at the gates ?

14. And those who heard him said one to another, even let us send him to the Great Council, lest perchance the Sadducees* should prevail against us.

15. Now, when the Sadducees heard of these things, and saw the writing which was upon the wall, they marvelled as at a great marvel, and were sore troubled.

16. And many said, this man was one of ourselves. Who hath turned back the wheels of his chariot ?

17. But others answered and said, he was indeed one of ourselves, and there is none amongst us who now may prevail against him, for he is a dweller in the tents of the city, and his fathers before him, and his corn, and his wine and his oil, do much abound.

18. He is a man skilful in much merchandize, and one that hath power over the workers in brass and in iron, over him that smiteth on the anvil, and him that smootheth the har

ness.

19. Moreover, there is a certain man of small stature, which is a mason, and which sits with Princes, and he will speak for him to every artificer in wood and in stone, gathering them together unto him as for the battle.+

20. Verily, we shall strive against him in vain; therefore, when he goeth up to the Great Council, let us raise our voices with one accord, saying, that we have sent him.

21. ¶ But there arose unto them tall man, which was one of the chief Scribes, whose nether raiment was as the raiment of those horsing upon horses, and he cried with a loud voice and said, not so, rather let it be that we choose one who is a stranger in the city.

22. There is a certain man in a far country, even Cam‡ the

† William Burn, Esq.

* Sadduces-The Whig Clique. Cam-Sir John Cam Hobhouse was originally proposed, but as the Whig party was divided on the subject of his nomination, Sir John Campbell, the Attorney-General, was substituted in his place.