Isles, by ill luck in a singularly slow-sailing brig. They were told the passage was usually one of three weeks, and laid in provisions accordingly. Their discomfort was such on board the "Mary Dare," that they regretted the bivouacs on the prairies, and were doomed to exhaust seven weary weeks before they reached the beautiful group of islands, blooming in all the luxuriance of tropical vegetation, with which Nature has so profusely adorned those gems of the Pacific. At Honolola, the capital of Woahoo, they spent six weeks most agreeably, were particularly struck with the animation and naïve manners of the wyheenes, or native ladies, assisted at more than one choice dog feast, and were presented by the Consul-General, Mr. Miller, at a grand levee, or reception, to His Majesty King Tamehameha the Third, and his august consort. The affair passed off with becoming decorum, and seems to have been a reasonably respectable travesty of royalty, with the qualification that his Majesty, according to custom, was considerably under the influence of the brandy bottle. The minister of Foreign Affairs, a gentleman endowed with a powerful Scotch accent and an enormous star, observed to the author with much complacency, "We do things in a humble way, but, ye'll obseerve, royalty is royalty all over the world, and Tamehameha is as much the king of his dominions, as Victoria is the Queen of Great Britain." They quitted the island without visiting the classic spot hallowed by the death of Captain Cook, or the great volcano of Monna Roa, the largest in the world, which is close to it. But Mr. Coke remarks, "of sight-seeing we had had our fill, and what small amount of travelling energy remained in me, I determined to reserve for my disagreeable stay, as I anticipated it would be, in the gold regions." Accordingly he sailed from Woahoo in February 1851, and after the usual discomfort of a three weeks' voyage, anchored in the far-famed bay of St. Francisco and at the mouth of the Sacramiento. A few years since, this noble estuary was an empty roadstead, unfurrowed by a keel. Now, the flags of every nation in the world may be seen there gaily fluttering in the breeze; a vast city encircles the bay, hourly increasing in size, in profusely wasted wealth, and in appalling demoralization; while an enormous mass of shipping is congregated together, second only to the forest of masts which greets the eye at London, Liverpool, and perhaps New York.

The author's impressions of St. Francisco, the country generally, and the sites of the "Diggings" in particular, are clearly and condensely recorded in a letter written to a friend in England on the 14th of March, and which, without his knowledge, was published in the Times Newspaper. Wasting health and life in the acquirement of gold, wasting the large sums of gold thus acquired, and the time expended along with it, in reckless gambling, and practising Lynch law in preference to all other forms of legislature, when what they consider expediency recommends summary punishment, these appear to be the three leading characteristics of Californian society. It is curious to speculate on what, in a few years, may be the political position of this vast and incalculably rich territory.

In addition to the gold, which promises to be exhaustless, they have also discovered mines of quicksilver, which yield from 3000 to 4000 pounds of metal daily, and in a commercial sense are even more valuable than the gold itself. The inhabitants are contributions from every nation under the sun, speaking more languages than were discoursed in Babel. Nationality they have none, and their tie to the federal union is a

nominal form hanging by a thread. They can and will sever it whenever caprice or growing power suggests the measure, and there is nothing to prevent them proclaiming themselves an independent republic, or a kingdom, or an empire, according as the term may suit the Louis Napoleons of the moment. How is the federal government of the United States to resist this, and what benefit does it derive from California, under existing arrangements? To march an army, with all the heavy materiel of war, across the Rocky Mountains, is difficult almost to impossibility, and the time such an operation would require, if indeed practicable at all, would render success a miracle. The same objection applies to the despatch of an armament by the circuitous route of Cape Horn. The land threatened with coercion would have many months to prepare and render their sea board unattackable.

California is a nest of volcanic activity, teeming with mischief or benefit to the social system of the world, according as the current of events may direct the extraordinary resources of this anomalous region. It may become a vast emporium of civilized humanity, or a pernicious centre of lawless buccaneers. The same superintending Power which has permitted the apparent bane, will, in its own due time and manner, provide the antidote.

Mr. Cope concludes his volume rather abruptly, saying in few words, that they went by steam to Acapulco; from Acapulco they rode without adventure to the city of Mexico; from Mexico to Vera Cruz; thence by mail-packet via Jamaica and St. Thomas, and landed at Southampton, in the middle of June, 1851.

On the voyage out, we omitted to state that he touched at, and gives brief notices of Barbadoes, St. Thomas, St. Domingo, Jamaica, and Cuba, en route to Charleston and New York, before entering on the great object of his travels. He appears to have been more struck with the beauty of Jamaica than Cuba, and his account of the Havanna, is far less favourable than that we have lately met with, in the glowing description of Lady Emeline Stuart Wortley. His impression appears to have been decidedly that the Cubans were wearied with the yoke of old Spain, and would exchange it on the earliest opportunity. Their late conduct during the razzia of Lopez, scarcely bears out this conclusion. We learn with much satisfaction, that, in our own islands, Jamaica in particular, the condition of the emancipated slaves is ameliorated by this change, a fact which has often been denied.

A very animated portrait of the author is prefixed to this lively volume. It speaks determination, good humour, intelligence, and buoyancy, and, altogether, represents precisely the sort of companion we should like to have by our side in any undertaking where there is danger to be met, privation to be endured patiently, or difficulties to be triumphantly overcome.

LEAVES FROM THE LIFE OF AN OLD DIPLOMATIST.

KURSAALHAUSEN.

"Oh! were he here in all the pride of youth,

With honour, valour, tenderness, and truth!"-CRABBE.

It was thus that I was persuaded to leave London for the Continent one year.

One of the objects of my heart's best feelings had appealed to me in a touching note to join a pic-nic, at which she was to be present, and I had accepted her invitation, promising to attend with severe asseverations.

Another also of my victims had requested the pleasure of my society at a similar junketing, and with oaths as solemn I had pledged my acquiescence.

I wrote upon a Sunday to each of the fair beings, requesting for information as to the scene of the festivities. I received two notes, which, but for the signatures, might have been duplicates.

"DEAR MR.

"To-morrow, -Virginia-Water, -11 o'clock train.

Station.

"Sunday, July 0th, 18—.”

"Yours,

Waterloo

But honour requires me to suppress the adverbs as well as the names of the subscriptions.

Plunged in despair, I knew not what to do. Had one of the pic-nics been at Norwood, or even at Birmingham, and the other at VirginiaWater, by dint of trains and cabs I might have favoured both parties with my much-desired presence; but "helas! as Mademoiselle Rachel pathetically says, the spirits of each of the damsels had been moved towards the same spot by my eulogies, and I could not join the one without meeting and consequently offending the other. The Gordian knot of perplexity might however be cut by the sword of decision, and each fair one received early on the morning of the jaunt the following epistle, the draft of which I subjoin.

"DEAREST {ADELOVIÈVE,}

"Affairs over which I have no control compel me to fly to the Continent. A diplomatic mission, no less secret than delicate, compels my attendance at a private congress at Kursaalhausen, and duty sternly requires obedience. You will believe me, sweet Geneviève, Adelgitha, when I assure you of the grief that this will cause me; but I am convinced that

my

{Adelgiha} would never wish me to desert my country, when it

Geneviève

VOL. XXXI.

stands so much in need of my services. Adieu, again, my dearest, my

(Adelgitha, and think on one who loves thee

life, to sum up all, my Geneviève,

fondly.

"Thine, true, and almost broken-hearted,

"ORLANDO."

A punishment soon, however, overtook me, and an avenging deity dogged my footsteps; for deep in the recesses of the Antwerp steamer's cabin, I poured out my grief in a basin of the willow pattern. I remember well how I noted the bridge over which the three fished-tailed musicians wandered, and a knowing wink in the eye of one of the birds, as I gazed longing on the earthenware.

And equal is the cabin of the "Soho" to that celebrated Hole of Calcutta, and like was the conduct towards the passengers of its attendants to that of the gaolers of Surajah Dowlah towards their prisoners, who, as the great essayist of the day has it, "mocked their agonies," "held lights to the bars, and shouted with laughter at the frantic struggles of their victims," till "at length the tumult died away in low gaspings and moanings."

Gladly did the present writer feel as the boat puffed up the Scheldt, and as his foot pressed the Belgian soil his heart bounded with gratitude for his deliverance, and he even glowed with admiration on the thoughts of the valour of the natives. Need he tell how he saw Waterloo and Brussels, how Spa claimed his attention, and how Cologne disagreed with his nose.

Is it necessary to relate that that vulgar woman, Mrs. Shenkin apShone, the wife of the rich tin master, courted him on the Rhine, as he spoke German and knew the Princes, and how she has since cut him in London; and will the reader insist on his narrating how a fat woman, Mrs. Brill, the wife of a banker and daughter of a wine merchant, did the same thing? In fact, since even Ludlam's young men enjoy their fortnight "hup the Rhind" annually, there is no occasion for the writer to describe that "noble river," nor, in fact, any part of his travel till his arrival at Kursaalhausen.

Kursaalhausen is, as all moderately educated persons know, the capital of a state, containing a population about half that of Birmingham. Its principal productions are husbands for queens, and a seedy nobility; its army consists of two field-marshals, eleven generals, three colonels, many majors and subalterns, and thirty-two rank and file. Its government is constitutional; its chambers consisting of three individuals, one of whom is president with two casting votes. The order of the Boot of Kursaalhausen is a decoration much in vogue (the writer is Knightgrand-cross thereof) and is only conferred, as this will show, on distinguished personages. The revenues are levied principally on strangers, who resort to the tables, where in return for their money they are provided with music, newspapers, and other recreations. Allow me to return to the first person.

I had been some time at Kursaalhausen, when one day, having dined with his Mightiness the Elector (kraut on the table at precisely 1 p. m.), after a dinner which lasted till seven o'clock, p. m., I adjourned with his Royal Highness Prince Emile of Kursaalhausen, then genera

lissimo of the forces of the state, to a ball given at the principal Pump

room.

My appearance in society with his Royal Highness, and decorated, in compliment to the reigning family, with the grand cordon of the order of the Boot (riband yellow with black borders) caused no small stir amidst my fellow-countrymen. Mrs. Shenkin ap-Shone, with fawning smiles, prevailed upon me to present her to the Prince, whom she has since entertained at Shone Castle, Montgomeryshire, and Seafordstreet, London; on which latter occasion Mrs. ap-Shone (who by the way was educated as a governess) collected to receive her illustrious guest, Field Marshal the Duke of Brentford, and Lord George Towser; the Earl and Countess of Chollop; Lord Brusher (said to be Mrs. ap Shone's lover, but quite cut out by the Prince); Sir Arthur and Lady Skeggles ; Sir Giles Tooley, and Mr. Brunt. Mrs. Brill, the banker's wife, wagged her head towards me violently, thereby displacing the fat wrinkles in her wicked old neck; and the representatives of nations could scarcely conceal their venom, feeling (between ourselves with justice) that my presence boded them no good.

Secretly pleased, I must confess, at this triumph, I was preparing to depart, when my appearance was suddenly arrested by seeing my nephew, Charley Durrant, of the Grenadier Guards, composedly placing large rouleaux of gold on the roulette table, as though he were not entirely dependent on me for his living, the interest of his own pitiful five thousand being forestalled for years to come. Silently I strode up to him, no muscle of my face betraying emotion. Stern as Brutus at the sacrifice of my nephew, for I felt that any emotion perceptible on my face might at that moment have endangered the peace of Europe. Silently I strode up to my nephew in all the majesty of avuncular indignation, though the spectator would have imagined me a stranger to him, he himself confusedly recognizing me in my wrath, and returning the cold bow with which I greeted him. He felt his iniquity, and would have avoided my glance, but he was not to escape. I sternly bade him call on me the next day, and left the room smiling my adieux to the society.

Early the following morning I received a note from Miss Julia Brill, the youngest daughter of Mrs. Brill, the banker's wife, whom the latter ancient strategist had frequently managed to throw in my way. Had I been a younger man, I might perhaps have thought of her, for she was a nice chubby girl, with grey eyes and small hands, in fact, quite my style; mais à mon age,-for, though no one would think it, I am on the shady side of fifty-such an idea would be ridiculous, and besides, I am already doubly pre-engaged, as my reader knows, in London. However, marry or not, I did not open Miss Julia's letter, without that slight tremor, that one always feels on opening a communication, of the contents of which one has not the slightest idea, written by a girl, of whose beauty one has a very vivid conception. Thus it ran :"DEAR MR.

"Pray don't be angry with Charley: to let you into a deep secret, he came here for my sake, and if you are angry with him, you will make him and I (?) both very unhappy. He promises he will never again go to the tables, and if you will not be angry with Charley, we