

1830.] Affairs in General. 459 



pattern of a joint-stool, for a five-shilling compilation of barbarous 

 poetry, for a pair of breeches cut out of the living bear, for a tetotum on 

 a new and infallible construction, " warranted to spin," for a print of the 

 features of some grim Slavonic ancestor, some Count of Wolfania," or 

 Duke of Sabreland, taken from the original carving in the Church of 

 our Holy Mother of Kasan, or for a quarto of Travels through Russia, 

 with all the anecdotes, from the newspapers, all the discoveries, from 

 the road-books, all the history, from the tables d'hote, and all the 

 " vignettes, views, inscriptions," original, from the print-shops. 



On those brilliant productions even the thimbles of the Czar Nicholas 

 were thrown away ; and the imperial liberality being fairly exhausted 

 some time since, and finding that no European fame redounded to it from 

 the labours of " illustrious men," (unknown in any country but their own, 

 and there known only to be laughed at), has prohibited " All men by 

 these presents," in future to dedicate book, or send print, or transmit 

 sleeve-button, and above all, to insult it with poetry. The Russian 

 ambassador has received strict orders, on pain of the knout, not to trans- 

 mit any further beggar's petition of this kind to his Imperial Majesty; and 

 notice has been given to contributors in general that, though Siberia is 

 but a month's journey from St. Petersburg, the Czar is about locating 

 a new settlement for their benefit within sight of the Pole. 



Louis Philippe, however, is beginning on a better plan, much more 

 useful to the world, and which will repay France much more steadily in 

 praise (to this we have no objection) than money lavished on such 

 slippery personages as the mob of authorship. We are informed that 

 " The King of the French has given instructions to a distinguished 

 litterateur to obtain for him a correct list of all the literary and scientific 

 bodies in Europe, with a precise account of their charitable institutions, 

 in order that he may subscribe to those which he considers the most 

 deserving of support. It is stated that at present the king bestows 

 nearly one million of francs per annum, directly, or indirectly, in the 

 encouragement of literature and science ; and that he insists upon each 

 of his children patronising works of art to an extent justified by the 

 pecuniary means which he has placed at their disposal/' This is 

 manly, and kingly too. 



The true name for the nineteenth century is the " Age of Puffery ;" 

 and the following is as pretty an instance of the practice as we have 

 lately seen. One of the newspapers publishes this annonce : i 



Bishop (!) Luscombe. " It is generally thought that this worthy 

 divine, who bears the Christian name of Bishop, is one of the highest 

 dignitaries of the church such is not the case. Bishop Luscombe has, 

 for years, been Chaplain at the English Embassy in Paris, where his 

 humane and religious pursuits have ensured him the esteem of all those 

 who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He has always shewn him- 

 self the philanthropist ; and many poor English mechanics, who have 

 been obliged to leave France in consequence of false hopes having been 

 held out to them, have never failed meeting with relief from him when 

 applied to. When his present Majesty, then Duke of Clarence, was at 

 Dieppe, he was introduced to his Royal Highness, who kindly invited 

 him, whenever he came over to this country, to pay him a visit. He 

 lately arrived at Brighton, where he had the* honour of preaching before 

 their Majesties." 



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