A PLOT. 



turn out of their moral laboratories paragons of princes and 

 princesses, such as were never before known since the world 

 J)egan. Now of this most curious art and mystery, you must 

 know, my lords, that I have picked up quite enough to model 

 you as pretty a queen as any subject need desire. Get me but 

 a place within yonder royal nursery, and 



I '11 do I '11 do I '11 do ! 



Then, under a sovereign truly of our own making, shall we, me- 

 chanics and labourers of the community, when, like myself, worn 

 out with toil, receive some better recompense than destitution 

 or death; and you, my masters, instead of ending by the same, 

 a short if pleasant life, shall be permitted by a kind and gentle 

 mistress, to enjoy your libations, love, and leisure, even to the 

 term of your natural existence!' ; 



Mere a mingled hum of surprise and approbation succeeded 

 to the silence which had reigned during the speech of the aged 

 sibyl. Personal interest had aroused her hearers from their usual 

 drowsy apathy, and anxious for a reform of royalty, which was so 

 greatly to benefit themselves, they were eager to test the reality 

 of the old dame's pretensions, by doing all they could to for- 

 u arc! her desire. It may seem strange that the male patrician 

 order, worthless as we have described it, should have possessed 

 any influence at all with the Amazonian people of Apia; but 

 the latter well knew how necessary these idlers would have 

 been for a season to the sovereign defunct; and that as they 

 \\ouldbenolessso to her successsor, then in making, they 



