586 Notes of the Month on [MAY, 



But where is Ruddington ? We flatter ourselves that we profess some 

 slight knowledge of Geography. We have studied Pinnock's Catechism, 

 can point out upon the map some of the principal cities of Europe but 

 we never heard of Ruddington. The Larnders are likewise entirely ignorant 

 of it j but fancy it is situated somewhere about twenty miles east of 

 Timbuctoo. We intend paying a visit in the coming summer to New stead, 

 and we would gladly link Ruddington to it, and so send them both to im- 

 mortality. Oh, how we long for the appearance of these Minor Poetical 

 Pieces ! to be printed uniform with Childe Harold's Early Poems ! 

 Oh ! Mrs. Parkyns! where is Ruddington ? 



THE EMPEROR OF CHINA ON HIS KNEES. The barbarian women of 

 Canton are not the only sources of annoyance to his Majesty of the 

 Celestial Empire. We observe in a letter, recently received from Pekin, 

 an account of his worshipping and sacrificing to Hwang-Ti, the Yellow 

 Emperor.* The ceremony consisted in drinking the Cup of Bliss, kneeling 

 thrice, and putting his forehead to the ground nine times. The mighty 

 and ever to be feared Taou-Kwang (the name of the reigning emperor) 

 appears to have relished these geriufluctions very moderately, for he has 

 reprimanded the conductor of the ceremonial for giving the words 

 kneel, knock kneel, knock kneel, knock too slowly. We omit the 

 original, thinking that our readers will be satisfied with a translation. He 

 complains, also, that the person who read the prayer had a weak voice, 

 and commands that another be found, who is blessed with a sonorous 

 utterance, and perfectly versed, moreover, in the detail of the ceremony. 

 Most sincerely do we sympathise with the Shadow of the Universe in his 

 afflictions. We trust, however, that no future ambassador will demur 

 about the nine bowings of the head, seeing that Taou-Kwang does not 

 hesitate to show a similar respect to the Yellow Emperor. 



CHOLERA TURNED TO ACCOUNT. We have seldom been more amused, 

 if, indeed, we ought to confess deriving amusement from so serious a sub- 

 ject, than at the gasconading proclamation of the French King on the 

 subject of cholera. It intimates that this disease is merely a scourge to 

 base and vulgar souls, that the refinement and known cleanliness of the 

 Parisians will effectually secure them from its ravages. The national 

 vanity, however, is doomed to a most severe mortification ; the injury 

 they have sustained is trifling in comparison. It appears that upwards 

 of twelve thousand men gain their living by grubbing amongst the filth 

 for bones and offal of various sorts, and have almost created another revo- 

 lution, because the operators, under the sanatory laws, by removing the 

 sources of their prosperity, have abridged their pleasant labours. Their 

 great men are dying ; but what of that ? their milliners have taken up 

 the subject, and are about to indemnify them for the loss. The Parisian 

 belles, who will be spared to disport themselves at the approaching pro- 

 menade aux Longchamps, will favour a particular or shade of blue to be 

 called " Blue Cholerique," and the " grande rage" for the season will be 

 an improvisation of the celebrated Victorine, the Chopeau d la cholorine. 



ANOTHER LION. London is becoming quite destitute of Lions : Prince 

 Piickler Muskau is gone back to ' Julia ;' arid our excellent friend, the 



* Hvvang-Ti was the divine founder of agriculture. 



