536 Notes of the Month on Affairs in General. [May, 
pronounced unfit for the mission. One, however, could do both, and he 
was sent. This language-master remained in the household of the noble 
family for some years. On the peace, he obtained leave to give up his 
task, and returned to his country. The intercourse with England was 
speedily opened, and the principal pupil of the soldier was employed to 
do the honours to the distinguished guests, not one of whom spoke Ger- 
man, French, nor any other language than their own. But the difficulty 
was by no means diminished on the new plan. The guests listened to 
the young interpreter ; not a word of her zealous communications 
could they comprehend. The interpreter was equally at a loss to de- 
cipher the language of the strangers. It turned out, that the English 
teacher had been a Highland serjeant, who had taught her Erse, the 
only language of which he was capable. 
The French revolution, by sending over a number of ecclesiastics, and 
persons of rank and education, partially propagated the language among 
us; but the chief result was to break up the trade of the travelling 
teachers. Those had been, in general, valets, (who called themselves 
counts and barons,) hair-dressers, and disbanded dancing-masters. A 
commission in the French army was frequently the assumption of those 
brilliant personages, and the teacher. of elegant phraseology was often a , 
fellow who had graduated in the servant's hall. 
THE PROPHECY. 
Ere Rome first trampled England’s crown, our soil was proud and free, 
Our Alfred boldly swept the land of foes from sea to sea ; 
Where trod the Dane, a bloody stain was all he left behind ; 
His fierce heart’s blood was on the flood, his groan was on the wind. 
Then Popery with a vulture’s wing came rushing o’er the soil ; 
The Romish robbers crowding came, our ancient shrines to spoil; _ 
Till, roused at length, the nation’s strength uprose and burst the chain, 
And Britain’s lion shook its links, like dewdrops, from its mane. 
Then great Elizabeth unfurled the red-cross banner true ; 
Then William came, and o’er the fields of France the banner flew : 
A hundred years of wealth and peace, a hundred years of power ; 
By Heaven the faithful land was blest, and freedom was her dower. 
Then George the Third—long live his name! to Britons proud and dear— 
Disdained, when traitors girt the throne, their councils base to hear : 
The deed is done, the woe begun, which after times shall weep, 
And curse the hour when treachery’s steps stole on the nation’s sleep. 
Old Persecution then shall rear her gory blade on high, 
The holy laws we now revere shall then be deemed a lie ; 
Apostacy shall then be praise, and villainy be fame, 
And honesty a standing joke, and patriotism a shame. 
And those that have their trust betrayed, shall rule the sinking land ; 
And those that have their creed unsaid, among the first shall stand ; 
And those who still maintain their faith, shall fall by fire and sword ; 
And Mammon be prime minister, and Satan sovereign lord ! 
